New major telecom player DITO Telecommunity Corp. has assured the government it will deliver the minimum internet speed of 27 megabits per second (Mbps) and the 37 percent network coverage before the deadline in July this year.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) had a recent meeting with the executives of DITO to discuss the status of its rollout program, given the impending July 2020 government-mandated deadline for the initial commitments.
“DICT was concerned about the capability of DITO to fulfill its commitments as July is six months away. However, based on our discussions, I am satisfied that given the updates by the three top executives, DITO is on its way to deliver on its promise of cheaper and more efficient service to the subscribing public,” Gregorio Honasan II, DICT secretary, said in a statement.
Among the updates reported to DICT were tower building activities, secured deals for infrastructure development, construction updates on network operations centers, rollout of crucial infrastructure as well as projected timetables.
“As we have been assuring the public, we are on track to meet our year-one commitment to the government and to the Filipino people to provide world-class telecommunications services,” Adel Tamano, DITO chief administrative officer, said.
DITO received its certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) from the National Telecommunications Commission last July 2019 to operate as the third major telco. The CPCN is valid for 15 years.
DITO posted a P25.7-billion performance bond to fulfill its commitments as the new major player.
Honasan advised DITO to keep the DICT abreast on all developments as the agency aims to ensure that DITO delivers the promised 55 Mbps internet speed and the more than 80 percent coverage of the population within the mandated five-year period.
