Many Filipinos remember Pasonet (also called Pisonet) as their first way to go online. It was cheap, simple, and available in many towns. For just one peso, people could use a computer for a few minutes. Students finished homework, gamers played with friends, and job seekers sent applications Comporium Webmail.
Today, mobile data and Wi-Fi are more common. But the story shows how affordable internet access can change lives.
What is Pasonet?
It is a coin-operated internet system. Users put coins into a slot and the computer works for a set time.
Main features:
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Pay-per-use – usually ₱1 for 5 minutes
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Coin slot with timer – controls the session
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Pause option – users could save unused minutes
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Voucher option – some shops sold prepaid codes
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Add-on services – printing, scanning, and photocopying
History
Timeline
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Late 1990s – First kiosks appeared in Manila.
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Early 2000s – Spread to towns and provinces.
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2010s – Peak use; many shops had pasonet units.
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2015 onwards – Decline because of smartphones and cheaper data.
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2020s – Survives in some rural areas and small shops.
How Did Pasonet Work?
It was designed to be easy for both users and shop owners.
Setup of a Typical Pasonet Unit
| Part | Function |
|---|---|
| Computer | Basic desktop PC, often second-hand |
| Coin Slot | Accepts coins and starts the timer |
| Timer/Software | Locks or unlocks the PC based on time paid |
| Pause Button | Saves unused time for later use |
| Voucher Codes | Optional, for longer or prepaid sessions |
| Printer/Scanner | Offered extra services for students |
Why Pasonet Was Popular ?
For Users
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Affordable – even one peso was enough.
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Flexible – no need to pay for a full hour.
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Accessible – found in small stores and internet cafés.
For Shop Owners
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Low startup cost – one PC and internet line could be enough.
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Extra income – printing, scanning, and snacks boosted profits.
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High demand – after-school hours and weekends were busy.
Who Used Pasonet?
It was used by many people, but three groups were the most common:
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Students
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Typed school papers
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Printed projects
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Used Friendster and Facebook
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Gamers
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Played Counter-Strike, DotA, Ragnarok Online
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Shops became gaming hubs
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Job Seekers
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Created résumés
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Sent emails and applied for jobs
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Learned basic computer skills
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Social and Cultural Impact
It shaped Filipino life in many ways:
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Community hub – kids gathered around PCs to play or watch.
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Digital learning – many learned to type and browse for the first time.
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Youth culture – pasonet shops became after-school hangouts.
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Equal access – even low-income families could afford short sessions.
Challenges:
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Some minors saw unsafe content.
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Many students spent too much time gaming.
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Shops sometimes caused noise in neighborhoods.
Decline of Pasonet
By the mid-2010s, pasonet started to fade.
Main reasons:
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Smartphones – cheap Android phones made the internet mobile.
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Data promos – telcos offered unlimited or low-cost mobile data.
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COVID-19 – many shops closed during lockdowns.
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Broadband – more families got home Wi-Fi.
Today, it is rare in big cities but still exists in some rural towns.
Lessons from Pasonet
Even if it is less common now, pasonet left behind important lessons:
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Pay-as-you-go works – small payments help poor communities get online.
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Local innovation matters – pasonet grew because shop owners adapted technology to local needs.
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Change is fast – new tech like smartphones can replace old models quickly.
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Access is key – people will use the internet if it is cheap and easy.
Case Studies
Manila City Shop
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10 pasonet PCs in a small store
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Fully booked after school
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Extra income from printing
Rural Barangay in Mindanao
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Only one pasonet computer in the whole village
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Used for schoolwork and job applications
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Became a meeting point for the community
Provincial Print-Shop
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Still runs 2 pasonet units
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Offers printing, scanning, and photocopying
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Pasonet is a side service, not the main income
Pasonet’s Legacy in 2025
Even though classic pasonet kiosks are fewer, the idea lives on:
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Prepaid Wi-Fi hotspots – similar pay-per-time model, but wireless.
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Community centers – NGOs use shared computers for training.
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Mobile micro-payments – app stores and load promos reflect pasonet’s “small payment” system.
It was not just about internet access. It was about giving people a chance—to learn, to play, to connect.
FAQs
1. What is Pasonet?
It is a coin-operated internet system in the Philippines. For one peso, users could use a computer for a few minutes, usually five to ten.
2. Why it was popular in the Philippines?
Pasonet became popular because it was cheap and easy to access. Students, gamers, and job seekers could go online without paying for a full hour.
3. How much did Pasonet cost?
The usual cost was ₱1 for five minutes of computer use. Some shops offered ₱5 or ₱10 for longer sessions.
4. Who used Pasonet the most?
Most users were students, online gamers, and job seekers. It helped students with schoolwork, gamers with online play, and workers with job applications.
5. What happened to Pasonet?
Pasonet declined when smartphones, mobile data promos, and home Wi-Fi became cheaper and more common. Many shops closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
6. What is the legacy of Pasonet?
The legacy of Pasonet is that it opened internet access to millions of Filipinos. It showed how small, affordable payments can bridge the digital divide.
Conclusion
Pasonet turned one peso into opportunity. For students, it meant finishing homework or for gamers, it meant hours of fun. For job seekers, it meant a path to employment. Even if smartphones and data promos have taken over, it will always be remembered as the gateway to the internet for millions of Filipinos.
It showed the world that with simple, low-cost, and flexible access, technology can reach everyone—five minutes at a time.