Cisco’s latest Broadband Index reveals that Philippine workers value access to the internet more than ever before, as hybrid working continues to be the norm in 2022.

Workers believe that universal access to fast and reliable internet is critical to economic and societal growth, according to a global survey of almost 60,000 respondents across 30 markets, including the Philippines, about their home broadband access, quality, and usage.

The report found that the success of hybrid work hinges on the quality and availability of the internet with 91% of workers say broadband services need to dramatically improve to support this new way of working. Workers also demand not only speed but also a high level of reliability and quality. A similar proportion (91%) say the reliability and quality of broadband connections are important to them. Dependence on high-performance internet access is underlined by the fact that over 8 out of 10 (86%) Philippine workers actively use their broadband at home for four hours or more each day. Meanwhile, three or more people use the internet at the same time in 83% of Philippine households.

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“With hybrid working continuing to be the mainstay for Philippines’ workforce, access to high-performance, secure, and reliable internet is critical for employees to work effectively and productively when they are away from the office,” said Zaza Nicart, managing director, Cisco Philippines.

Many teleworkers need more than a basic level of connectivity to support their livelihoods. To address the demands on their broadband connection, more than half (52%) of Philippine workers surveyed are planning to upgrade their internet service in the next 12 months.

SME

With 48% of the the Philippines’ workforce now relying on their home internet to work from home or run their own business, access to secure, reliable internet is more important than ever to ensure the smooth running of operations. This is especially critical for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), that do not have the same resources and IT infrastructure as larger enterprises.

At the same time, a new digital business environment has emerged where ambitious entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs can prosper, fostering innovation across industries.