[{"bbox": [97, 155, 1133, 329], "category": "Text", "text": "and (3) the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI), a demand-driven cooperation pro-\ngramme that facilitates dialogue fora between the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian\nNations (ASEAN) on currently 34 joint priority policy areas, including the digital economy and society. The Dig-\nital Economy Package will also take into account and seek complementarities and synergies with initiatives lead\nby European partners, among which the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the EU Members States, or by non-\nEuropean partners, international financial institutions and cooperation agencies."}, {"bbox": [97, 344, 1133, 489], "category": "Text", "text": "Key Duty bearers for the Action are the Philippines Space Agency (PhilSA), the Advanced Science and Technol-\nogy Institute from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ASTI) and the Department of Environment\nand Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DICT).\nThe PhilSA together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is primary implementing stake-\nholder of the Copernicus Philippines Programme."}, {"bbox": [85, 516, 341, 546], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [97, 576, 1133, 810], "category": "Text", "text": "Short problem analysis: Among ASEAN members, the Philippines is progressing well and witnessing a digital transformation. Nevertheless, several connectivity-related issues and limitations hinder the access, exchange and use of data in the Philippines. Access to reliable and secure connections remains a challenge while the cost of digital services is still high, especially for women in all their diversity. According to the Philippines Development Plan this suggests a need for greater investments into digital infrastructure. Additionally, the outdated laws and regulations are “ineffective in addressing high entry barriers in the digital services market, thereby limiting competition among service providers, affecting broadband prices, and restricting investments for infrastructure build-up and expansion, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).”"}, {"bbox": [97, 824, 1133, 910], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU has chosen a strategic entry point in the field through building on the existing Copernicus Philippines project that will lead to positive spill over into other areas of secure connections. Issues and limitations occur at four levels: inter-continental, regional, national, and local (at the level of Key right holders’ organizations)."}, {"bbox": [97, 922, 701, 952], "category": "Text", "text": "Inter-continental links: possibly peering PREGINET and GÉANT"}, {"bbox": [97, 966, 1133, 1052], "category": "Text", "text": "The Inter-continental connectivity aspect of the Digital Connectivity aims at securing a dedicated high-speed broadband connection between the Philippines and Singapore to connect onward when possible but not exclusively to existing educational and research networks offering a route to GÉANT in Europe."}, {"bbox": [97, 1064, 1133, 1267], "category": "Text", "text": "The new GÉANT Singapore route interconnects GÉANT’s backbone network in Marseille to the SingAREN Open Exchange in Singapore, a neutral Internet Exchange point hosted by Singapore’s National Research and Education Network SingAREN. This is currently 15% utilised and could be considered as an ideal onward connection from the Philippines to Europe. PREGINET is already connected to SingAREN with a 10Gbps multipurpose link. This link would be updated to 100 Gbps. Opening a 100 Gbps link from Manila to Singapore by acquiring indicatively 10-15 years IRU on an existing cable may therefore be considered a possible solution to peer PREGINET¹³ to GÉANT."}, {"bbox": [97, 1283, 1133, 1456], "category": "Text", "text": "GÉANT is also part of the Asia-Pacific Europe Ring (AER)¹⁴. Connectivity on the Asia-Pacific Europe Ring would increase the available bandwidth which GÉANT can offer/utilise and provide multiple network paths and backup connectivity in case of network outages. The Asia-Pacific Europe Ring (could be accessible from Manila through Tokyo or Singapore and would allow reaching GÉANT point of presence in Amsterdam (the Netherlands), London (United-Kingdom), or Marseille (France) with a 100 Gbps connection subject to the assurance of secure intermediate route across mainland Asia."}, {"bbox": [85, 1596, 738, 1621], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹³ The Philippines Research, Education and Government Information Network"}, {"bbox": [85, 1621, 302, 1644], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁴ https://aer-network.net/"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1682, 1143, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 7 of 35"}]