DICT moves to invest in common towers but tower permitting delays persist
May 13, 2021DICT moves to invest in common towers but tower permitting delays persist.
We laud the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) recently reported plans to invest in common towers for missionary sites, complete with radio access network and Internet Protocol to expand mobile services to underserved areas in the country.
While the Joint Memorandum Circular of the DICT, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Anti-Red Tape Authority to streamline the process of issuing necessary permits yielded good results in the first quarter of 2021. Data shows that we still have low tower site density relative to the population of users. With the unprecedented rise in demand for broadband services, there is urgency to speed-up telecom tower and fiber optic projects.
According to DICT Undersecretary for Digital Philippines Emmanuel Rey R. Caintic, “DICT wishes to invest in common towers for missionary sites, complete with radio access network and Internet Protocol back haul.”
The DICT is currently working with the House of Representatives to pass legislation allowing DICT to utilize untapped funds from the Spectrum Users Fee reserved for FREE WIFI for Public Places for digital infrastructure. This will allow DICT to build common infrastructure in commercially unviable places where people are clamoring for reliable mobile services.
Recent update from Globe Telecom reported completed builds of 274,000 high-speed lines, 4,210 sites, and 318 new cell towers. Timelines to further expand 1,383 sites in NCR, Bacolod, Boracay, Cebu, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao are on track.
SMART PLDT also reported an increase of 5,200 base stations from December 2020. LTE presence, furthermore, increased to 10,327 sites from January to April 2021.
However, Telecom Tower Watch monitored feedback from Globe Telecom and PLDT SMART raising the issue of persistent delays from some Local Government Units despite the directive to limit permitting process to 16 days.
This uncooperative behavior reeks of suspicious motives and should be investigated by DICT. Swift action should be meted against the parties responsible for violating the 16-day limit for approval of permits.
We call on all stakeholders to be vigilant and expose anomalous acts that hinder the fast expansion of the country’s digital infrastructure.