DICT eases rules on common towers

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The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) has issued a new policy that would fast-track the deployment of shared towers across the country particularly the unserved and underserved areas.

Department Circular 008 or “Policy Guidelines on the Co-location and Sharing of Passive Telecommunications Tower Infrastructure (PTTI) scraps the previous policy on common towers and removes the stringent guidelines drafted by then presidential adviser on economic affairs and ICT Ramon Jacinto who is now DICT undersecretary.

Deleted were the financial requirements for independent tower company (ITC) to have a net worth of least P3 billion and/or P10 billion and to show proof it has the ability to raise additional capital. One of the controversial provisions removed is the prohibition on incumbent telcos from building towers.

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The final rules also scrapped a provision limiting the number of players to five in the first four years of policy implementation.

The policy gives a qualified applicant license to operate as an ITC for five years, renewable for the same period. Applicant ITCs should have at least the relevant construction experience, registration, license, and financial capacity of, or equivalent to, a contractor falling under Category A of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board to qualify.

There are 24 local and foreign ITCs with pending applications under the previous common tower issuance.

“ITCs with existing (agreements) with the DICT shall be deemed registered under this circular, provided that they promptly file their duly completed documentary requirements for their application for registration as ITCs in accordance with this circular,” the DICT circular said.

Out of 24 applicants, six firms have agreements with DICT and incumbent telecom players PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. and new telecom player, DITO Telecommunity Inc.

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