Even today, I still hear a lot of people saying or commenting hat 3G internet in the Philippines is still expensive. Yeah, it’s not that very cheap but I don’t think it’s expensive either.
Let’s skip comparing our local 3G internet rates to the rates in other countries and look at some domestic parallels.
Let’s look at Netopia, the most popular internet cafe chains in the country, and see how much they charge for rentals. Members get a discounted rate of about Php30 while non-members pay Php45, right? (or is it higher)
Regular internet shops (the mom-and-pop’s type at the street corner) charges Php20 for gaming and Php25 for surfing.
Pay-for-access WiFi Zones provided by Airborne Access and Globe WiZ charges Php100 per hour.
If we compare 3G internet at Php20 per hour, it’s not that bad. Actually, if you compare it to the examples above, it’s the cheapest. So, why there’s still the perception that 3G is expensive?
- The WAP-era trauma. About half a decade ago, when WAP was first introduced, they cost an arm and a leg. I remember viewing my blog over WAP and posting a comment back then — those 3 page loads costs me Php100!
- Reliability. If you surf on a net cafe, you’re pretty much sure you’d get a good if not fast internet speed. Over 3G, it’s a hit and miss.
- Over-charging nightmares. Either your prepaid loads get drained up real fast or your postpaid bill is thru the roof — any one of these incidents could happen to you.
- Coverage. Even if you’re subscribed on 3G, there’s no telling if your area is covered only by GPRS or EDGE.
The only compelling reason why I think 3G is cheap for me is because of mobility. Maybe someday, we’ll have an alternative option with mobile WiMax.
@ ZJ, ang 3g hindi lng s cellphone. ung mga smart bro, globe tattoo and sun broadband uses gprs/ 3g/ 3.5g connection gamit ang usb modem. kya it’s wireless connection between a pc and a telco. but u can also remove the sim on the modem and put it on ur fone to have the same service pero wlang twag, internet lng and some providers now have the texting option. fyi.
*Omit the “a” on the “a private browsing..” :)
For me, I won’t consider using 3G regularly as my “MAINSTREAM INTERNET CONNECTION”
Why? Bakit naman ako mag iinternet sa Cellphone browser eh kung mas mabilis yung sa net shop? Saka kung hindi ka pa magiinstall sa mga Cellphones like N95 ng Opera Browser, hindi mo maeenjoy yung 3G Speed diba? The biggest backslash-“es” that i could think of [ag nasa Net Cafe is tha fact that you can’t do a private browsing, and the possibility na ma-Hack yung accounts mo. diba? Malay mo may Key-Logger pala sila. :)
Many Filipinos still think it’s expensive because it’s not free. Personally, I think it’s cheap but not very reliable when you’re on the move, like downloading podcasts on the bus. Actually, my Globe 3G is faster than my Smart Bro with fixed antenna at home when using my smartphone.
ang problem sa 3g sa pinas medyo mabagal sya compare sa ibang bansa. siguro kung yung speed nya eh! mabilis talaga, wala ng problem sa price.
3G appears to be expensive kahit sabihin natin na PhP20 lang ang rate kada oras kasi nga kagaya ng nasabi kanina it really is bundled to a high end phones or better yet smatphones and netbooks… meron ngang available na murang 3G phones yet hindi capable ng browsing na umaapela sa masa and mostly nagagamit lang as a modem! ngayon nagiging mura ang 3G dahil sa tingin ng iba meron silang magagandang pampalit sa PC on the GO gaya ng mga high end phones and netbooks na hindi naman kasama sa budget ng marginalized community ayun lang hehe ;))
and yes, sir yuga answered his own question. :p mobility is not everything.
It’s still really a personal preference. Some of my friends use it regularly, some don’t use it at all.
Reliability is the crucial factor, if only telcos would address this issue, then more people would use it on a regular basis.
yes it’s cheaper now. before, i was billed by sun postpaid a jawdroppin 4k when my plan is only 350 for using the gprs service. that was traumatic until they got this sun broadband. now surfing the web has already been a daily habit. if only they could deliver with the speed or at least a fraction of it because the average speed of my internet is 90kbps here in c3 caloocan.
Its not cheap!! its actually FREE! Im using opera mini 4.2 and ebuddy instant messenger, yes you heard me! Its free!!! Even if i dont have any load, im using globe prepaid. Google this “om 4.2 thormentor”. I bet sir yuga will enjoy this! Just dont tell the telcos bout this sir yuga, u have my trust. Ciao
Maybe the reason why people think 3G is expensive is because many are still unaware that there are already cheap 3G wireless broadband like in sun cellular.
I also thought before that it is not a 3G technology but simply wireless broadband.
I think it is a waste. I live in the hear of Manila city and neither Globe or Smart works here. So I did not bother trying Sun anymore as to not waste my money. I don’t think that other think it is expensive, I think what they’re trying to say is it is a waste of money.
why do i think it’s cheap.
instead of calling my love ones abroad using regular phone calls i use mobile voip (nimbuzz or fring) to call them. imagine, a 30 minute call only charges 10 pesos. di ba?
tapos nagdadownload ako sa phone ko using torrent ng isang song that normally cost 50 pesos, wala pang 15 mins, tapos na, so 5 pesos lang.
mura no?
sobra naman “why do FILIPINOS still think…”
my friends and colleagues and a lot of people that i know who use smart, sun, and globe’s 3G service believe that it is reasonable not expensive.
maybe you are talking about those people who cannot afford to get 3G capable phone, pc or laptop. siempre mahal yun sa kanila, di nga sila bumibili ng mid range or high end na gadget eh.
sana ginawa mo nalang why do SOME filipinos. wala ka din naman kinuhanan ng data. may survey ka bang ginawa?
i’m using Globe’s tattoo, but im only using it when im in the city… 3G signal has not reach this part of bulacan yet.. but sometimes even GPRS signal will do just to twit. :)
I agree with all those points. I’d rather look for a free wifi hotspot (which is so common nowadays anyway) than use my phone’s 3G.
Netopia (Alabang Town Center branch) charged us PHP60.OO/hour — we are non-members — when we went there last week. Meanwhile, the going rate for surfing at a Pangasinan Internet Cafe (not Netopia) is PHP20.00/hour, while it’s PHP25.00/hour at the Badjao Inn in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Where i usually go to download large files 100mb or more, they only charge P15 per hour. Besides 3g is not that widespread. Here in olongapo where i live, globe and sun has no 3g. I think if the telcos will provide unlimited packages, more people will use and view 3g as cheap.
Yeah, I think 3G is cheap but the speed and reliability is the main issue. If telcos fix that problem, people will surely adapt 3G easier.
I’m using Sun Broadband Unlimited P799.oo, I used to think it was expensive… but now that I use the internet regularly, it is well worth it to have Unli connection… Maybe usage of 3G connection is done rarely will you feel that it is expensive…Thanks Sir