Globe Telecom Inc. yesterday said it has accelerated the network rollout in third quarter this year with the construction of 1,064 new cell towers and more fifth generation sites and fiber to the home (FTTH) lines.
PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. have secured an additional 68,000 fixed and wireless permits in Cavite, Batangas, Laguna and Palawan in just a month.
The number of passed permits from October to November 2022 has exceeded the total 68, 711 permits secured by three major telco companies in 2021.
Globe said 84 percent of the P74.4 billion capital expenditure spent in first nine months of 2022 was allocated for data requirements for data requirements include additional LTE upgrades, new 5G sites, tower builds, and FTTH rollout.
The network investment has yielded 1,064 new cell sites, 10,600 mobile sites upgraded to LTE, and 1,887 new 5G sites nationwide.
Close to 1.4 million FTTH lines were also deployed as of end-September 2022, compared to over 1 million lines from a year ago. This is in line with the company’s bid to make fast and reliable connectivity pervasive and accessible to more households and businesses.
“Globe’s network rollout momentum continues and is expected to surpass last year’s builds. These accelerated upgrading and network expansion efforts will not only deliver a more consistent level of network quality but will further elevate the standard of connectivity in the country,” said Joel Agustin, Globe’s head of network planning and engineering.
Meanwhile, PLDThas credited this to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), the National Telecommunications Company (NTC), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for streamlining the government’s permitting process for the telecommunications sector.
ARTA previously led the drafting of three joint memorandum circulars (JMCs) that aimed to streamline the processes and requirements in setting up telecommunications towers and poles.
According to the World Bank study, the Revised JMC No. 1, s. 2021 or Revising and Expanding JMC No. 1, s. 2020 or the Streamlined Guidelines for Permits, Licenses and Certificates for Construction of Shared Passive Telecommunications Tower Infrastructure paved the way for the decrease of the number of needed permits from 13 to 8, documentary requirements from 86 to 35, and length of time for processing from 241 days to 16 days.
JMC No. 1, s. 2021 or the Streamlined Guidelines for the Issuance of Permits and Clearances for the Erection of Poles, Construction of Underground Fiber Ducts and Installation of Aerial and underground Cables and Facilities of Accelerate the Roll-out of Telecommunications and Internet Infrastructure, specifically on Pole Erection and Pole Attachment, has decreased the number of needed permits from 11 to 5, documentary requirements from 62 to 26, and length of time for processing time of 868 days to 74 days. – With Irma Isip
