Manila Bulletin
Philippines
Poe prods DICT to make 3rd telco Dito comply with commitment to improve PH internet speed
Philippines
Poe prods DICT to make 3rd telco Dito comply with commitment to improve PH internet speed
Poe prods DICT to make 3rd telco Dito comply with commitment to improve PH internet speed
Published Nov 19, 2019 12:00 am
By Vanne Elaine TerrazolaÂ
Senator Grace Poe on Monday prodded the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to make sure that Dito Telecommunity will comply with its commitment to improve internet speed and coverage in the country.
Senator Grace Poe
(ROY DOMINGO / MANILA BULLETIN) At the Senate's plenary debates on the P7.7-billion proposed 2020 budget of the DICT, Poe said Dito will face penalties if it fails to comply with its commitments to the government for being allowed to operate as the third telecommunications player. Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, sponsored the congressional franchise granted to Dito, formerly called Mislatel, last May. Dito, on its first year, was required to cover at least 37 percent of the population at a minimum internet speed of 27 megabits per second (mbps). She also pointed out that the telco consortium is also expected to build cell towers in 2,500 locations. These should be complied with by July, 2020, Poe said. Over a five-year period, Dito also committed to increase internet coverage to 84 percent of the country with an internet speed of at least 55 mbps. But Senator Panfilo Lacson, who spoke in behalf of DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan as their budget sponsor, said not one cell site has so far been completed by Dito. "'Yon ang medyo nakakatakot kasi by July 2020, dapat meron na silang 2,500 cell sites (That's what we are fearing, because by July 2020, they should already have 2,500 cell sites)," Poe said. Lacson allayed Poe's concern, saying Dito can comply with its obligations in two months' time. "I understand these are all prefab, so mabilis lang po ito (these should be quick). In two months, they can put them up," he said. Poe stressed that under Dito's franchise agreement, "for every non-compliance, there will be penalties." "If they are not able to fully deliver on their commitment, there are penalties," she added. Lacson said Dito's commitment is backed by performance bonds should it breach its commitments: P25.7 billion for the first year; P10.7 billion for the second year; P8 billion for the third year; P5.3 billion for the fourth year; and P2.7 billion for the fifth year. He clarified, on the other hand, that Dito will be given a six-month grace period to comply with the requirements before the penalties are imposed. Poe said she looks forward to the completion of the new cell sites, noting that these will improve telecommunications services in the country.
Senator Grace Poe(ROY DOMINGO / MANILA BULLETIN) At the Senate's plenary debates on the P7.7-billion proposed 2020 budget of the DICT, Poe said Dito will face penalties if it fails to comply with its commitments to the government for being allowed to operate as the third telecommunications player. Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, sponsored the congressional franchise granted to Dito, formerly called Mislatel, last May. Dito, on its first year, was required to cover at least 37 percent of the population at a minimum internet speed of 27 megabits per second (mbps). She also pointed out that the telco consortium is also expected to build cell towers in 2,500 locations. These should be complied with by July, 2020, Poe said. Over a five-year period, Dito also committed to increase internet coverage to 84 percent of the country with an internet speed of at least 55 mbps. But Senator Panfilo Lacson, who spoke in behalf of DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan as their budget sponsor, said not one cell site has so far been completed by Dito. "'Yon ang medyo nakakatakot kasi by July 2020, dapat meron na silang 2,500 cell sites (That's what we are fearing, because by July 2020, they should already have 2,500 cell sites)," Poe said. Lacson allayed Poe's concern, saying Dito can comply with its obligations in two months' time. "I understand these are all prefab, so mabilis lang po ito (these should be quick). In two months, they can put them up," he said. Poe stressed that under Dito's franchise agreement, "for every non-compliance, there will be penalties." "If they are not able to fully deliver on their commitment, there are penalties," she added. Lacson said Dito's commitment is backed by performance bonds should it breach its commitments: P25.7 billion for the first year; P10.7 billion for the second year; P8 billion for the third year; P5.3 billion for the fourth year; and P2.7 billion for the fifth year. He clarified, on the other hand, that Dito will be given a six-month grace period to comply with the requirements before the penalties are imposed. Poe said she looks forward to the completion of the new cell sites, noting that these will improve telecommunications services in the country.