After IShowSpeed’s rant, Cebu City Council pushes for better Internet connection

Local

AMID concerns over Cebu's Internet speed raised by a well-known American content creator, the Cebu City Council is urging telecommunication companies to upgrade their networks ahead of the Sinulog Festival 2025 on Sunday, January 19.

During the council's session, Councilor Jaypee Labella, who chairs the Committee on Information and Communications Technology, emphasized the need for reliable internet services to accommodate the large crowd expected for the festival.

With an anticipated 1.5 million visitors, Labella highlighted the importance of robust and continuous communication networks to ensure a smooth experience for both local and international attendees.

"Cebu’s Sinulog is not only a major cultural celebration but also a significant event for global tourism, and the need for quality communication is paramount," Labella said.

His push for improved service came after the well-known American YouTuber and influencer, IShowSpeed, shared his negative experience with Cebu's internet connectivity on social media.

In September 2024, IShowSpeed, who currently has 34.4 million YouTube subscribers, visited the city and posted a comment, describing the internet speed as “the worst internet ever,” bringing attention to the city's tech shortcomings.

The influencer's feedback sparked wider discussion, highlighting a critical area of concern for Cebu, especially with such large-scale events like Sinulog drawing tech-savvy visitors who rely heavily on reliable internet services.

"The incident is a wake-up call for telecommunication providers to address these issues quickly and avoid repeating poor user experiences that can tarnish the city’s image,” Labella added.

He pointed out that while Cebu boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage, improving the city’s infrastructure to meet modern technological demands is equally essential.

Meanwhile, Cebu Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia assured that Sinulog 2025 will not repeat past years' practice of signal jamming.

"Continuous communication is vital for public safety, particularly in emergencies," Garcia emphasized.

The city had stopped the signal jamming practice in 2020, and the mayor confirmed that there are no plans to resume it this year.

Councilor Joel Garganera, who heads the Security Cluster for Sinulog 2025, emphasized the importance of maintaining reliable communication networks for effective crowd control and emergency management, especially with an anticipated turnout exceeding the 3 million attendees from the previous year’s South Road Properties event.

Garganera also highlighted that Cebu City has focused on ensuring the smooth flow of information and security, opting against the use of signal jamming, a measure not recommended by the police.

As for crowd management, organizers are already stepping up security preparations. More than 3,000 personnel, including security forces from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the police, and local responders, will be stationed throughout the event, with additional reinforcements planned for the final day as the crowd grows larger.(MyTVCebu)