Independent tower company Alliance Towers Corporation (ATC) is going full speed ahead in building towers to support digital transformation and telecommunications industry efforts to address the demand for fast, stable, and reliable internet connectivity in the Philippines.
In 2019, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) recognized ATC as a licensed digital infrastructure company. Alliance has since then created partnerships with major telecommunications companies in the country, namely Globe Telecom, Dito Telecommunity, and PLDT.
Formerly known as ALT Global Solutions, Inc., ATC has built over 40 towers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and plans to build 500 towers a year moving forward. The additional towers would help improve digital connectivity since the Philippines needs to build 50,000 towers to meet its current shortfall.
“The recent pandemic has brought about the urgent need for fast and reliable internet connectivity to enable digital transformation and the adaptation of the country to new digital landscapes. Unfortunately, there is a wide gap between the number of subscribers and the cell sites here in the Philippines to provide the bandwidth and connectivity that the Filipinos demand,” Alvin Tolentino, President and COO of ATC said.
“As the country adapts to the rapidly changing times, ATC aims to be a major player in the common tower industry, helping its Telco partners provide better service and the country progress towards a more connected nation. Our plans in the pipeline involve initiatives that will help stabilize and expedite programs to address consumer demands for improved digital connectivity across the Philippines.”
Demand for towers is being driven by the increased capacity requirements of consumers, the expansion of 4G and 5G rollout, the increased number of telco players, and the common tower policy that enables players to share towers to reduce costs.
The common tower policy is part of the government's reforms over the last two decades to provide good connectivity and extend it to unserved and underserved areas in the country. The reforms dramatically changed the Philippine telco landscape and led to the establishment of shared telecom infrastructure.
“We acknowledge our role in the success of the country’s digital transformation and advancement. This is why we have selected a management team that has a proven track record in the tech and telecommunications industry to lead our programs and initiatives in building digital infrastructures. Furthermore, we also ensure that our experts are armed with the right extensive information and knowledge to develop our towers, and we have also developed standard parameters to ensure that our sites, services, and operations are best-in-class,” Sherwin Hing, Chairman and CEO added.
“The nation’s internet connectivity is dependent on the strong collaboration of the government, the digital infrastructure industry, and the telecommunications sector. As we join forces to continue progressing the country’s digital status, ATC will remain steadfast in providing digital infrastructures, and increasing the numbers of telecom towers that will serve as an avenue to reach even those in rural areas,” Tolentino and Hing concluded.