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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider DICT seeking P13.5 billion for National Broadband Program

DICT seeking P13.5 billion for National Broadband Program

Published Jul 22, 2020 10:00 pm

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)  proposed to increase the budget of the National Broadband Program (NBP) from P296.5 million this year to P13.491 billion in 2021 as it prioritizes digital connectivity and access in the country. 

“The call for faster and more accessible Internet connectivity has never been more immediate as we aim to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis," reasoned DICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II .

“The establishment of a national fiber optic backbone is a very pressing matter, not just in light of the public health emergency, but for the sake of national competitiveness, " he stressed.

"These will help us achieve our vision of a Digital Philippines.” 

The National Broadband Program calls for building and enhancing existing ICT broadband infrastructure to make Internet connectivity accessible and more affordable for the public.

It is structured into six components: National Fiber Optic Cable (FOC) Backbone, Cable Landing Stations, Accelerated Tower Build, Accelerated Fiber Build, Satellite Overlay, and Broadband Delivery Management Service (BDMS).

Among these components, the National FOC Backbone has successfully tested 158 dark fiber segments of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). 

The backbone aims to cover the entire Philippine territory to reach unserved and underserved areas by targeting the installation of a 2,295 km FOC in 2021.

The department, together the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), has also completed the construction of the Cable Landing Stations at Baler, Aurora and Poro Point, La Union under the second component. 

The construction of the 240-km fiber highway is also underway and expected to improve access to 2Tbps capacity by 2021.  

Component 2 shall also cover the operations and maintenance of the 2 Cable Landing Stations and the 4 Repeater Stations.

The DICT has also issued the Policy Guidelines on the Co-location and Sharing of Passive Telecommunication Tower Infrastructure for Macro Cell Sites on June 08, 2020 to fast-track the rollout of common towers. 

This policy aims to accelerate telecommunications infrastructure rollout in the private sector to provide remote areas of the country with affordable and fast Internet connectivity.

The Accelerated Fiber Build Component had connected 792 agencies in 13 GovNet sites as of date. For the rest of the year 2020, a total of 463 agencies in six GovNet sites shall be connected, and a total of 810 agencies in fourteen new GovNet sites are expected to be connected by the end of 2021. 

The NBP will replace ICT equipment for 300 GovNet sites; expand seven existing sites; and provide IP Transport Services for eight  GovNet sites. 

The GovNet project aims to institute fast and efficient network to interconnect government agencies pursuant to the eGovernment Master Plan 2.0 (EGMP 2.0) by the building basic infrastructure and shared services for government offices and facilities.

The sixth component, Broadband Delivery Management Service (BDMS), is a recently added feature for 2021. 

The BDMS was developed in response to the accelerated NBP implementation and shall ensure uniform service delivery and promote healthy competition among Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to drive better quality Internet at lower costs.

The DICT is proposing a total 2021 budget of PHP 46,645,238,000.00 to fund five  key strategic programs to propel government digital transformation.

These include (1) Digital Connectivity and Access, (2) Digital Government, (3) Digital Education and Digital Workforce, (4) Digital Cities and Provinces, and (5) Cybersecurity. The Digital Connectivity and Access Program covers the NBP, the Free Wi-Fi for All Program, and the Government Emergency Communications System (GECS).

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