A Multi-Source Quality of Service Validation Framework for Evidence-Based Broadband Regulation in the Philippines

Abstract

Being able to rely on a robust broadband network is crucial for digital inclusion, public service, economic engagement, and evidence-based telecommunications regulation. In developing countries and archipelagic settings, however, traditional broadband monitoring relies on operator-submitted reports, limited datasets of speed tests, or localized engineering survey.In developing countries and archipelagic settings, however, the traditional method for broadband monitoring, in terms of providing evidence for regulatory planning, is based on operator-submitted reports or limited speed test datasets or isolated engineering surveys. This study introduces a multi-source broadband validation and mapping system known as National Telecommunications Commission Quality of Service (NTC-QoS) Framework designed to aid the country's nationwide assessment of the performance of the telecommunications and broadband service providers in the Philippines. The framework includes validation of FTTH, wireless broadband measurements, radio spectrum analysis, cell site validation, inventories of NAPs, speed-tests, Geographic Information Systems, and a cloud-based QoS Portal. The design and development research approach was used, including standardized field validation and spatial processing, database integration, and regulatory analytics based on dashboards. The results of the completed implementation yielded 5,719 FTTH barangays, 5,349 wireless barangays, 439,120 mapped NAP points, 11,721 validated cell sites and 3,509 recorded 5G observations. The QOS Portal allows users to do interactive filtering and analysis according to the provider, radio technology, signal strength, infrastructure layer or administrative level (national, regional, city/municipality, barangay). The results show that the framework is more spatially resolved and robustly independently validated than conventional broadband monitoring approaches. The system proposed provides a scalable model for evidence-based telecommunications regulation, identification of connectivity gaps, infrastructure planning and continual broadband QoS monitoring in the Philippines.