Globe urges PLDT to peer with neutral Internet exchange

Rappler.com

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Globe urges PLDT to peer with neutral Internet exchange
Globe says 'nothing less' than PLDT connecting to a neutral internet exchange or direct peering with Globe would validate PLDT's claim of support for IP peering

MANILA, Philippines – Globe Telecom has called on the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) to make good on its claim of supporting IP peering by linking up with the Philippine Open Internet Exchange (PHOpenIX), a neutral Internet Exchange managed by the Department of Science and Technology’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI).

An Internet exchange allows the free flow of Internet traffic among connected Internet and data service providers. (READ: The way it is: The Philippine Internet and making it better)

With a proper IP peering policy in place, connectivity speeds will improve at less cost for most companies as there is a shorter route to take for certain sites and services.

Due to the current lack of IP peering, local traffic – connections that begin and end in the Philippines – has to travel to other connections outside the country before getting router back to its target destination, delaying data transmission and slowing Internet connectivity.

Francisco Claravall, Globe Vice President for Consumer Broadband Products, noted that Globe welcomes PLDT’s statement in support of IP peering.

“In so doing,” he says, “PLDT should then connect to the government’s only internet exchange or at least establish direct peering with Globe Telecom. Nothing less would suffice to validate its claim of support for an effective and reliable IP peering among various ISPs in the country.”

PLDT recently said it now supports regulatory initiatives for implementing IP peering, but emphasized such arrangements must be voluntary, in line with generally accepted international practice.

“This is certainly good news to all of us. We should all work together to improve the Internet experience of all Filipinos”, Claravall added.

However, Claravall stated, “it is important to distinguish IP transit vs. peering. IP transit is when an ISP (usually a Tier 2 ISP) uses another ISP (usually a Tier 1 ISP such as PLDT or Globe) to access the rest of the Internet via a transit arrangement and therefore the former uses the resources of the Tier 1 ISP to allow its uses to access the rest of the Internet. That is not our intent when we push for IP peering.”

PLDT’s Head of Public Affairs, Ramon Isberto, responded to Globe’s statement with 3 points.

PLDT said that domestic peering “is not based on the realities of the Philippines.” The company explained that most of the country’s Internet traffic is based on English-language information rather than local languages, and they assert that peering “will not address complaints of slow Internet speed.”

PLDT also raised concerns about the DOST-ASTI’s ability to maintain the “security and adequacy of the technical arrangements of proposed mandatory peering through the facilities of the PHOpenIX.”

The company also maintains the stance that “the most equitable and efficient way of establishing peering arrangements is through bilateral commercial agreements between the concerned parties.”

“Such agreements,” Isberto explains, “would require both parties to undertake the needed technical and commercial measures to ensure the quality and viability of internet services.” – Rappler.com

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