On 24 August 2025, the Konektadong Pinoy Act (“KPA”) lapsed into law, as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos neither signed nor vetoed the bill by Congress within the thirty (30) days from transmission to his Office. The initiative of the KPA is to significantly enhance digital inclusion and bridge the connectivity gap, particularly in underserved areas. The KPA will endeavor to modernize the digital infrastructure of the Philippines by encouraging bot local and foreign investment, promoting infrastructure sharing among data transmission industry participants (“DTIPs”), and ensuring fair competition.

The KPA represents a progressive step toward universal digital access in the Philippines. While the goals are laudable, implementation will require strong coordination among national and local governments, the private sector, and civil society. Early engagement can yield both compliance clarity and business advantage.

1.         Key Features of the KPA

In pursuit of the above, and if enacted, the KPA will:

1. Institutionalize a straightforward registration requirement for DTIPs;
2. Repeal the requirement for DTIPs to obtain a congressional franchise requirement for;
3. Allow DTIPs to deploy satellite technology and use associated spectrum/s in any/all segments of their broadband network without the need for a lease or rent capacity from public telecommunications entities;
4. Mandate the formulation of the Spectrum Management Policy Framework to prescribe the national policies and guiding principles that govern the management of spectrum (which includes spectrum valuation and pricing, spectrum allocation, and spectrum assignment for public, private, and government use); and

Mandate minimum quality standards, data privacy safeguards, and usage limits to ensure equitable access and protect against abuse

2.         Legal and Commercial Implications

While the objectives of the KPA are to be lauded, there certain implications to be noted:

1. Potential Impact on Telecommunications and Internet Service Providers, as free public internet may influence consumer usage patterns and create new collaborative or competitive dynamics;
2. Data Privacy and Security Considerations, particularly in light of mandatory public access points. In fact, a “group representing the country’s leading telcos warned that the version approved by the bicameral committee could ‘lead to national security vulnerabilities, weaken regulatory oversight and destabilize the telecommunications sector in the long run.’”[1]
3. Increased Compliance Obligations for LGUs, government offices, and public institutions regarding connectivity infrastructure and reporting.

1. Konektadong Pinoy bill faces review amid telco concerns”, by Alexis Romero, 17 June 2025 accessed at https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/06/17/2451146/konektadong-pinoy-bill-faces-review-amid-telco-concerns