I have been visiting different places in Davao City and I have noticed that there are places where it is not good for IT people, students, researchers and computer savvy. These people will not enjoy once internet accessibility is a big, big, big question.
There was a situation that my friend was looking for a place to stay for the rest of his life. He was an OFW, who worked in Europe as an IT consultant and designer for more than 20 years. He wanted to stay in Bago Aplaya, Davao City for his new hive, but he was surprised that the place did not meet one or two of his criteria, namely: High-speed internet connection (wired and wireless – DSL), and good cellular reception with 3G and/or HSDPA speed connection. He asked me to accompany him to the telecommunication providers (PLDT, SMART, Globelines, Bayantel, and Skycable) if there are available services for his needs, and sad to say no one commits.
So, We did a survey and look at what we found out:
- PLDT = OK with limited telephone lines available but no DSL services
- Globelines = on-going development (Toril was there priority)
- Globe Handyphone = very strong signal reception (possible 3G and HSDPA speed connection)
- Sun Cellular = very strong signal reception (3G and/or HSDPA speed connection is not available)
- SMART Cellular = very poor signal receptions
- SMART Broadband = very poor signal receptions (needs to erect 30- 40 feet of tower in order to receive acceptable signal strength, but not the excellent signal strength —- meaning during heavy rains no signal at all)
- SKYCABLE = on-going replacement of catv line amplifiers in order to provide internet services.
When we visited a newly opened subdivision, my friend wondered why this place have a DSL services offered by PLDT, then I told my friend immediately that as far as I remember that one of the statement from people in PLDT Bangkal Exchange that the people in a newly opened subdivision requested to PLDT Cebu to put up DSL services. In my mind, maybe PLDT’s DSL expert designers and planners in Cebu have lack of information regarding Bago Aplaya status or maybe the manager of PLDT Bangkal Exchange don’t have a nerve to tell people or persuade the authorities in PLDT that at least include in their plans about high-speed internet connection for Bago Aplaya. As far as I remember , most common defense mechanism of people in PLDT Bangkal Exchange that even their manager don’t have DSL connection, so meaning …you don’t have either also.
I’ve meet one person residing in a subdivision at Bago Aplaya during my visits in PLDT Bangkal Exchange for a business transaction that he applied for DSL connection 3 years ago, but until now is not available because of many unbelievable reasons. He went to Globelines also to inquire about the DSL connection and Globelines replied that they are fast tracking their development and installation of their system towards Toril. Globelines told him that their DSL are now available in Downtown, Matina, Matina Aplaya, NHA Bangkal and Central Park only. Currently, Toril is now on-going improvements accordingly.
If you are coming to Davao City for you to stay for life, just consider the following:
- Water supply (continuous clean water supply from DCWD)
- Power supply (stable Davao Light Power Supply)
- Safety and security (peace and order stability, disaster or emergency responses)
- Environmental Considerations (is it noisy or not? look at you neighbors also, history of calamities like floods, typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, etc.)
- Telecommunications (high-speed internet, cable television, telephone, cellular receptions)
- Schools, Churches, Public Markets, Malls
- Business Places
Have fun staying in Davao City. In overall situations, Davao City is still a better place to live in.
Filed under: Experiences, Society | Tagged: Bangkal, Bayantel, computer savvy, Davao City, DSL, experience, Globelines, information technology, internet, IT, Matina, OFW, PLDT, schools, Skycable, SMART, students, Sun Cellular, telephone
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This is a very good introductory article for the possible availably of Internet service. personally I think every area should have one similar. We are experiencing similar issues in the surrounding areas of Daanbantayan, Cebu. It does have fairly good internet, but anything outside the area does not. Here are the major obstacles we have run into.
1. Land lines are none existent making DSL none existent. It is hard to even get an antenna phone. It sometimes seems almost as if no one cares whether they do business or not.
2. The phone and Internet Service companies seem to have a business model that isolates the engineers, planners and managers from their customers. And worse, they seem to have given strict orders to not to give out their name or contact information. This is extremely none customer centric behavior and basically limits the potential customer from anything other than then common sales pitch. The people you do talk to do not understand enough to contribute to a work-a-round. This cuts off solutions that could very well work. For example, Yagi Antennas and amplifiers, planned areas of expansion (you could look for land in these areas), co-installations (would they move to an area, if you provided a tower, or paid for installation and/or equipment?. With the apparent business model, there is no way to tell if any of the alternative solution might solve the problem.
3. Companies are extremely inefficient. We ordered 3 phones and it took almost a year just to get 1 phone. They are so worried (& I can understand this) that they may not get paid, that they actually block good customers. We offered to pay 5 years in advance. We were still told we need financial responsibility. This was a clear case of someone with extremely limited understanding blocking rock solid potential sales.
4. Companies like AzCom Satellite service, advertise rates like 128Kb, but they do not provide anything near that. The service is worse than a poor dial-up and your wasting your money. SmartBro’s wireless (at 2KB) is just as bad, if not worse. If your not in the metropolitan area, you are out of luck.
It would be beneficial if the Philippines had a central depository for Phone & Internet services, the areas, they cover, the areas they plan to expand in, along with methods for improving service. Instructions for and locations for buying equipment from knowledgeable people that can provide the right equipment.