At least three more common tower providers will soon be accredited by the government to accelerate the build-up of more cell sites across the country, according to DICT acting secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr.
“As of now, around three tower companies have shown interest in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DICT,” Rio said in an official post on Wednesday, January 2.
ISOC Infrastructure Inc. was the first to sign an MOU with DICT on December 20, 2018, and at least three others, are expected to follow suit.
The MOU will pave the way for the DICT to support a common tower company in facilitating permits, right of way, and provide other government support for infrastructure should it secure a contract with any of the telco operators.
According to Rio, tower providers should first demonstrate their capacity by actually sealing business transactions with the telcos, which will soon include the newly-named major player Mislatel consortium.
“In the end, the (tower companies) that will get support from the government will have to depend on market forces, and not for the government to dictate on what the market should do, for them to get support,” Rio added.
ISOC Infrastructure believes that the tower-sharing model will benefit not only the telco operators but also the government.
“The MOU with the DICT is proof of our strong desire to invest in improving the telco infrastructure in the country and to help contribute in the development of this industry with the telco providers as our partners,” ISOC Infrastructures chairman Michael Cosiquien said.
The DICT is also looking to push a proposal that will subsidize common towers that will be built in underserved or unserved areas.
