SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday stressed the need to maximize the use of satellite technology as an alternative solution to problems on poor internet connection in remote areas.

Gatchalian said that satellite technology will be a big help given that the Philippines is an archipelagic country and is not well supported by robust telecommunications infrastructure.

The senator stressed that internet connection is necessary not only for the delivery of basic services but for distance learning.

Gatchalian filed Senate Bill 2250 or the Satellite-Based Technologies for Internet Connectivity Act of 2021 saying that a satellite is used to get an internet signal from the Internet Service Provider to the user.

Under the bill, an internet service provider will send a fiber internet signal to a satellite in space. The satellite will then send the internet signal to the internet modems of the users.

“Improving internet access in the country will spur investments in the Information and Communications Technology sector and expand the digital infrastructure that will ensure universal access to the internet, especially in critical areas such as e-government and the delivery of basic services, education, health, trade, finance, disaster preparedness, and public safety,” Gatchalian said.

The use of digital technologies in the country is still below its potential with 45 percent of Filipinos and 74 percent of public schools nationwide remain unconnected. The situation is far worse in the Visayas and Mindanao where there’s less than 40 percent of internet usage, he said.

“Ang problema natin, bukod sa kulang sa imprastraktura, limitado pa rin ang bilang ng mga nagbibigay serbisyo pagdating sa internet connection. Kaya kahit na sabihin pang bumibilis na ang internet sa ilang mga siyudad, hindi pa rin ramdam lalo na sa mga liblib na probinsya na walang cell sites o towers,” Gatchalian added.

The lawmaker pointed out that satellite-based internet is used by developed and developing countries to provide internet services especially in an area where it is more expensive to roll out wired or mobile networks.