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A FORMER TOP official of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is sounding the alarm over the recently approved Konektadong Pinoy (KP) Bill, warning that the measure —while well-meaning— could inadvertently harm the very industry it seeks to improve.
Jeffrey Ian Dy, who served as DICT Undersecretary before, expressed deep concern over several provisions of the bill, particularly Section 16, which mandates all Data Transmission Industry Players (DTIPs), including Public Telecommunications Entities (PTEs), to share and co-locate infrastructure.
Dy said he has long supported infrastructure sharing to help lower internet costs, but believes the bill takes a dangerously simplistic view of how the country’s telecom ecosystem actually works.
“Infrastructure sharing is not just a matter of plugging into a common line,” Dy said. “When you don’t factor in the business models, the regulatory hurdles, and even the geopolitical implications, you end up creating more problems than you solve.”
‘More troubling … is the potential national security threat posed by foreign-operated fiber networks interconnecting with local systems, particularly in Northern Luzon.’
RED FLAGS
Among the red flags Dy raised is the bill’s failure to regulate excessive fees imposed by property developers and mall operators, which he believes will continue to discourage telcos from expanding services in underserved areas. While the bill outlines rules for in-building infrastructure sharing, enforcement focuses solely on telecom providers—leaving landlords and developers unaccountable.
More troubling, Dy warned, is the potential national security threat posed by foreign-operated fiber networks interconnecting with local systems, particularly in Northern Luzon.
“You can’t talk about digital sovereignty and then allow unvetted foreign access to critical infrastructure,” he noted. “That’s a contradiction with real-world risks.”
Dy also flagged loopholes in the bill’s handling of satellite operations, arguing that the relaxed policies may open the door to further encroachment by foreign entities occupying key orbital positions above the Philippines.
INFRASTRUCTURE SHARING
Dy likewise questioned the practicality of enforcing infrastructure sharing on undersea cables —where over 99 percent of internet traffic flows— most of which are operated by international consortiums.
Given these concerns, Dy urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reconsider signing the bill in its current form. While acknowledging the administration’s push for digital inclusion, he emphasized the need for a more technically sound and secure policy framework.
“It’s not enough to be connected,” he said. “We need to be connected wisely, securely, and sustainably.”