Let’s build a faster and cheaper internet—from the backbone out

Our electric power system may not be perfect, but at least we know how it works: there's production (like power plants), transmission (via the national grid), and distribution (done by Meralco or the electric coops). That structure—clear and layered—helps us manage power more efficiently.

Now, can we do something similar for the internet?

Today, the internet is arguably as essential as electricity. Yet it remains expensive, slow, and—ironically for the digital age—inequitable. The urban rich get fiber connections, while many in the provinces struggle with unreliable or nonexistent service. But the problem isn't just about infrastructure; it's also about structure.

 

Who owns the internet highway?

Let’s use the power sector as a metaphor. If we think of telcos like Globe, PLDT, and Converge as the National Power Corporation of the internet world, they are doing more than just transmitting. They’re also controlling the last mile, the way Meralco controls your neighborhood’s electricity lines.

But here's the rub: in the old days, Value Added Networks (VANs)—the backbone providers—stayed out of the Value-Added Services (VAS) or “last mile” business. Smaller Internet Service Providers (ISPs) used to serve the final leg, connecting homes and offices. That model was more inclusive and encouraged competition.

Now, the telcos are doing both: controlling the backbone and the last mile. And as they grow, smaller ISPs get squeezed out, unable to compete in a market where access to the core infrastructure is monopolized or too costly.

 

Why the government needs to step in

So, here’s my big suggestion, Let the government build and own more of the internet backbone.

Think of it as building a public internet superhighway. The more lanes we build—meaning more bandwidth capacity—the faster and cheaper our internet becomes. And unlike roads, where land is finite, digital bandwidth is expandable. This isn’t theory. This is infrastructure that pays for itself in national productivity.

And why should government intervene? Because the private sector alone will never invest in the far-flung barangays, or in rural schools, or in mountainside cooperatives. It’s not profitable. But the state can—and should—step in where markets fail.

 

Let’s rethink public Access

Here’s another idea. Just as private bus companies can use our highways for free, why not let telcos use government-owned internet backbones freely, under certain conditions?

If they benefit from public infrastructure, they must also create space for smaller ISPs and cooperatives on the last mile. It’s not unreasonable. In fact, it’s a form of digital franchise fairness. If you want to run on public roads, open your doors to more passengers.

 

Cooperatives: A missed opportunity?

We already have electric cooperatives operating in areas where private distributors don’t bother to go. So, here’s a challenge: Why not empower these same coops to become ISPs?

With a bit of training, equipment, and incentives, these grassroots institutions could be transformed into last-mile digital heroes—bringing internet to schools, farmers, fisherfolk, and remote communities. This isn’t just about internet access. This is poverty alleviation through digital inclusion.

Cooperatives have boots on the ground. They have organizational structure. Most importantly, they have members who want better lives. What they don’t have—yet—is the digital backbone to plug into.

 

The cost of doing nothing

If we continue with the status quo, we’ll stay stuck with:

High internet prices, especially outside major cities

Low speeds, especially in rural and underserved areas

Digital inequality, where only urban centers benefit

Missed opportunities for digital jobs, education, and innovation

And all this despite living in the “social media capital of the world.”

 

Time to digitally decentralize

Let’s not put all the power in the hands of a few big telcos. Let’s build a national backbone, managed or supported by the government, and open it up to more players—especially cooperatives and small ISPs.

Because just like electricity changed the 20th century, cheap and fast internet will define who thrives in the 21st.

Let’s give the people the tools to connect, compete, and create. Not someday—today.