The commercials run fairly frequently on television and are also plastered all over social media. One of the country’s primary telecommunications companies is promoting their latest offer: “Free YouTube every day.” From the outset, the promotion doesn’t sound bad, especially for those without a data plan. Then the graphic pops up, “For up to an hour.”

That’s it?

The ad even includes a tagline that suggests one can stream videos “to their heart’s content;” sure, but up to one hour.

Particularly when it comes to using YouTube on one’s phone, personally, it’s mostly for the gym and works as a distraction while running on the treadmill. If enrolled in the said plan, there goes the daily allotment. Others may use it on long commutes, wherein the everyday allocation would likely be gone either while traveling to work or on the return trip home – one or the other. Given how slow internet speeds in the country can get, the time it takes just to upload a video can use up the entire hour.

Benefit of the doubt

Perhaps the limited telecommunications infrastructure limits firms from offering practical plans. Promoting some real competition, which will stimulate innovation and force companies to work harder at providing better service, is a prime reason why President Rodrigo Duterte appears to be pushing hard on bringing in another player into the market; the previous administration talked about it, but when the slightest pressure came from current industry players, they backed off rather quickly.

It is precisely because there is (just about) no competition in the industry, companies can put out whatever packages they want – whether useful or not – because, frankly, the public only has ‘A’ or ‘B’ to choose from.

Without proper competition, the market is rather unfriendly turf for the average consumer.

Lowered expectations?

Does the idea of one hour of YouTube really strike a positive note among the public? Taking the most extremely optimistic perspective, one hour is better than nothing; but, is that the best companies can provide? Is the fact the country continues to have one of the most archaic telecommunications systems in the world, with internet speeds rivaling war-torn nations, that sets such a foundation where trivial offers like “one hour of YouTube a day” sound like a great deal? It’s very much akin to those text promotions offering a few insignificant megabytes for a day, enough to log onto Facebook for a few minutes?

After moving to the Philippines, marveled at the idea of having two phone numbers for such a low cost; it’s a concept unlike anything in the United States. In the US, most people are signed to contracts with phone companies and have one number; which comes at a much higher cost.

However, whenever visiting the US, always stopped by the same telecommunications company because they, at the time, were the only company selling SIM cards.

It’s also a very straightforward process. The sales representative first ensures the phone is compatible, then goes into the different plans they offer. Always signed on with the unlimited plan, which provides unlimited calls, texts, and data; even the lower plan, which does not have unlimited data, the salesperson said internet service just slows down once the allotment has been used, which, considering internet speeds in the Philippines, it probably isn’t really that slow.

The cost is much higher than purchasing regular phone credits (load), but the convenience the unlimited service provides really is priceless.

Then again, looking at how the Philippines has set up their telecommunications infrastructure, while there are hiccups with service in the US (a likely scenario anywhere in the world), the prospect of such plans in the country also seem out of reach. Internet speeds are not just slowing down browsing, but it slows down productivity; inconsistent range of service will prevent some customers from being able to use it at all; inconsistent electricity may also impact connectivity, not the mobile device itself, but from the company’s cell site; and a myriad of other irregularities that other countries have looked to mend but the Philippines has, for whatever reason, allowed to fester.

While the initial idea of “YouTube for one hour” seems completely pointless, looking at the bigger picture and the lack of innovation in the local telecommunications industry (whether intentional or not), perhaps it is, unfortunately, the best the country can offer./WDJ