DITO WOWFi Review: Not just an alternative anymore

When we moved to a new home just recently, we needed a reliable plug-and-play Wi-Fi connection. I have, like, a 15-year relationship with my previous broadband provider. Yes, we started with DSL, then moved to broadband, and eventually fiber. I’m loyal like that.

But moving into an apartment changed things.

There was no way we could have a fiber line installed in our new place. That meant looking for something I honestly never thought I would need: wireless home internet.

So, plug-and-play Wi-Fi it is.

That’s how I ended up trying DITO WOWFi.

Coming from fiber, I had my reservations. I work online, so the internet isn’t something I can afford to be without for long. I was also used to a wired connection that I didn’t really have to think about once it was installed.

WOWFi is different. There is no fiber line coming into the apartment because the 5G modem connects to DITO’s mobile network. And in our situation, that’s exactly the point.

The first thing I appreciated about WOWFi was how little I had to do to get it running. The DITO SIM is already inside the modem. You plug the modem into a power outlet, connect your phone or computer to its Wi-Fi network, and register the SIM using the DITO app. That’s pretty much it.

I used to wait anxiously for a technician and watch him work his way to installing our digital lifeline. This time, there’s none of that. 

After years of conventional broadband, being able to plug in a modem and get the home connected feels surprisingly convenient. To be honest, I was a bit worried about how strong the connection would be. We are all heavy internet users and I need something that would not fail us any time of the day, or night.

It also means I can move the modem around the apartment. That’s something you don’t normally think about with fiber because your router generally stays wherever the line was installed.

With WOWFi, placement matters because it relies on DITO’s network signal. Lucky us, our new location has a strong DITO signal.

There are other plug-and-play internet services, of course. 

My decision to go with DITO wasn’t based entirely on the modem or the advertised speeds. One surprisingly important factor was customer service. DITO was responsive when I had questions and was the fastest to reply. I also contacted another network provider while looking for alternatives, but I was basically brushed off. That made the decision easier.

When you’re moving into a new home and trying to sort out everything at once, getting a quick answer to a simple question goes a long way.

After using fiber for years, I don’t think it makes sense to pretend that wireless home internet and fiber are exactly the same thing. They’re not. . A physical line gives you a level of consistency that is difficult for a wireless service to guarantee.

But, just when I thought that fiber is still my preferred connection if I have the option, DITO delivered. Surprise, surprise, and with the hopes of not jinxing it, it doesn’t feel like “wireless” at all.

Initially, I thought WOWFi is just an alternative to fiber but given the right location, it has become a major digital connection. It’s not just another option but now the main consideration.

And there are probably more people who are looking for more affordable options that can deliver speeds that they need: apartment dwellers, renters, people staying somewhere temporarily, or anyone who simply doesn’t want cables installed.

There is one thing I would check before buying WOWFi: DITO coverage.

Our location gets a strong signal, but that won’t necessarily be the case everywhere.

DITO says the WOWFi Pro can reach download speeds of up to 100 Mbps, while the WOWFi Ultra can go up to 500 Mbps. Those are maximum advertised speeds, however, and actual performance will depend on network conditions and your location.

Inside an apartment, even the location of the modem can matter. The advantage is that you can move it. If the signal isn’t particularly good in one corner of the apartment, you can try another spot or place it closer to a window.

So far, we haven’t moved our modem anywhere in our apartment. It is where we originally placed it from the onset.

DITO has several WOWFi models depending on how much you’re willing to spend and the connection you need.

In my tests, WOWFi usually gets around 8 Mbps to 10 Mbps. That may sound slow, especially when we’re used to seeing internet plans promising 100 Mbps or more. But speed tests don’t always tell the whole story. What matters to me is what happens when I’m actually using the internet. Can I open websites without waiting? Can I watch videos without buffering? Can I work online without constantly losing my connection? So far, I can do all of those without much trouble. The numbers may not be impressive, but in everyday use, the connection does the job.

The WOWFi Pro starter kit costs ₱1,490 and includes the modem, DITO SIM, and unlimited data for 15 days. After the initial allocation, you can get unlimited data for ₱490 for 15 days or ₱790 for 30 days. DITO lists maximum speeds of up to 100 Mbps. 

We are on the ₱790 plan which is more than half the plan we had in the past. Imagine the savings we are having.

If you need more speed, the WOWFi Ultra costs ₱4,990 and supports speeds of up to 500 Mbps. Its unlimited 5G data options cost ₱690 for 15 days or ₱1,090 for 30 days.

There’s also WOWFi Pro 365, which costs ₱7,290 and includes unlimited data for an entire year.

Spread over 12 months, that’s roughly ₱608 a month, including the modem.

For a household that needs an internet connection without committing to a fiber installation, that’s worth considering. 

I needed something I could use in our new home without installation, drilling, cables, or waiting for a technician. WOWFi gave me exactly that. And perhaps that’s the better way to look at it.

Still, don’t look at WOWFi as something that has to beat fiber to make sense. Look at whether it solves the internet problem you actually have. In my case, it does.

I can plug it in, connect our devices, and move it around the apartment if I need to find a better signal. I don’t have to ask anyone to install anything, and I’m not tied to a physical broadband line.

The biggest consideration is coverage. If DITO’s signal, or any other provider for that matter, isn’t strong where you live, the experience could be very different. I would definitely check that before spending money on the modem.

Lucky us, we have a strong DITO signal in our new place. DITO WOWFi gives us what we were looking for: home internet without the hassle of having a line installed.