PLDT announced on Monday, April 19, that its subsidiaries Smart Communications and Digitel Mobile Philippines have signed agreements for the sale of 5,907 telecom towers and related infrastructure for P77 billion.
Common tower firm ISOC edotco said it has completed its first build-to-suit site last September 2020 in Bacoor, Cavite and is expected to be ready for active installation by end December 2020.
While noting that the government has yet to release an official common tower policy, DICT undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said the common tower providers may be given their respective areas where they can operate exclusively in a scheme similar to service areas imposed on telephone landline operators years ago.
The partnership will be called ‘Isoc edotco Towers, Inc.’ and will see both partners businesses bringing their operational expertise and technological capabilities.
Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu said the company is taking a leap towards improving ICT infrastructure in the Philippines by being the first mobile operator to support the government's common tower initiative.
Nigeria's IHS Towers and Malaysia's Edotco Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the DICT on Thursday, January 17, while China Energy Engineering Group is set to ink the same deal on Friday, January 18.