Consumer group calls to lift lease fees for telcos, says internet now a basic necessity

Saul Loeb/AFP

A consumer group has called to suspend the lease fees for telecommunications companies, saying that internet connection in the digital era is a “basic necessity.”

In a statement, Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3) said that internet connections should be treated equally to utilities such as water and electricity.

“Dapat itong tingnan bilang katulad ng tubig at kuryente na maagang isinasama sa disenyo ng lahat ng gusali ng gobyerno at pribadong sektor, at maging lease-free. Hindi natin kailangan ang dagdag sa gastos sa mga basic utility na tiyak na idadagdag din naman sa singilin ng mga konsyumer,” the statement read.

(It should be seen as similar to water and electricity, which are early incorporated into the design of all government and private sector buildings and are lease-free. We do not need the increase in the cost of basic utilities, which will surely be added to consumers’ charges.)

It added that communication and digital connectivity should be considered a “basic human right.”

Erwin Tulfo, House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Representative said that since nearly 800 Metro Manila buildings have suspended lease fees, the private sector should consider offering zero leases for broadband connectivity.

Currently, 105 developers in Makati City have adopted the lease-free setup for broadband connectivity, followed by Taguig City, which has 91 buildings, and Quezon City, which has 57 buildings. — Sherylin Untalan/BM, GMA Integrated News

This article Consumer group calls to lift lease fees for telcos, says internet now a basic necessity was originally published in GMA News Online.