NIGHT OWL
Anna Mae Lamentillo
This week, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States conducted the 3rd ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN), ASEAN Digital Senior Officials Meeting (ADGSOM) and Related Meetings with Dialogue Partners with the Philippines as host.
The meetings aim to prepare ASEAN for the new digital economy and digital society by building greater connectivity, integration, and capabilities. In line with this, developing 5G will be vital to the economic growth of member states as 5G will be a crucial part of the infrastructure for the digital economy.
Previously, the ASEAN released “The ASEAN Guidelines on 5G Ecosystem Development” that provides proposals and recommendations for the member countries as they push through 5G deployment.
The 5G, or fifth-generation wireless technology, offers higher bandwidth and speeds up to 100 times that of 4G. Higher bandwidth means more versatility with the use of mobile devices. Downloading, streaming, and accessing online sites is much faster. 5G offers faster, more reliable, and consistent connectivity for smartphones and similar devices.
Moreover, 5G technologies support applications that will have great impact on our society. For instance, in healthcare, it will pave the way for vast improvements in our telemedicine services as it will reduce turnaround time and connect underserved areas to specialists in the cities. In education, it will provide alternative learning methods by allowing students access to educational materials and lessons through smartphones.
It also supports applications such as smart homes and buildings, smart cities, 3D video, virtual reality, and massive machine-to-machine communications for industry automation.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), under the leadership of Secretary Ivan John Uy, aims to play a more active role in the development of 5G technology in the country. We are actively coordinating with our telcos to ensure that internet services can match with those of the global community.
The DICT’s common tower policy, which allows multiple telcos to co-locate at a single site and share on operation expenses, will fast track the expansion of wireless network coverage and improve ICT services across the country.
We are also receiving support from the US government for 5G deployment in the country. Through the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), the US government provided NOW Telecom Company Inc., a ₱118 million grant to fund a feasibility study for the development of reliable and secure nationwide 5G mobile and broadband networks in the Philippines.
The feasibility study will provide NOW Telecom with the necessary analysis, designs, and plans for the phased implementation of the project. It will also include the establishment of a 5G pilot network at multiple sites in Metro Manila to validate network performance, test 5G use cases, and provide data to inform larger scale deployment.
The 5G deployment in the country is an important component of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure internet connectivity that is fast, reliable, and secure for all Filipinos.
Under the able leadership of Secretary Uy, the DICT is dedicated to the promotion of technological adoption, buildup of digital infrastructure, and boosted Internet connectivity for our country to reap the economic benefits of digital technology and to continue to lead in the global ICT experience.
ted Meetings with Dialogue Partners with the Philippines as host.
The meetings aim to prepare ASEAN for the new digital economy and digital society by building greater connectivity, integration, and capabilities. In line with this, developing 5G will be vital to the economic growth of member states as 5G will be a crucial part of the infrastructure for the digital economy.
Previously, the ASEAN released “The ASEAN Guidelines on 5G Ecosystem Development” that provides proposals and recommendations for the member countries as they push through 5G deployment.
The 5G, or fifth-generation wireless technology, offers higher bandwidth and speeds up to 100 times that of 4G. Higher bandwidth means more versatility with the use of mobile devices. Downloading, streaming, and accessing online sites is much faster. 5G offers faster, more reliable, and consistent connectivity for smartphones and similar devices.
Moreover, 5G technologies support applications that will have great impact on our society. For instance, in healthcare, it will pave the way for vast improvements in our telemedicine services as it will reduce turnaround time and connect underserved areas to specialists in the cities. In education, it will provide alternative learning methods by allowing students access to educational materials and lessons through smartphones.
It also supports applications such as smart homes and buildings, smart cities, 3D video, virtual reality, and massive machine-to-machine communications for industry automation.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), under the leadership of Secretary Ivan John Uy, aims to play a more active role in the development of 5G technology in the country. We are actively coordinating with our telcos to ensure that internet services can match with those of the global community.
The DICT’s common tower policy, which allows multiple telcos to co-locate at a single site and share on operation expenses, will fast track the expansion of wireless network coverage and improve ICT services across the country.
We are also receiving support from the US government for 5G deployment in the country. Through the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), the US government provided NOW Telecom Company Inc., a ₱118 million grant to fund a feasibility study for the development of reliable and secure nationwide 5G mobile and broadband networks in the Philippines.
The feasibility study will provide NOW Telecom with the necessary analysis, designs, and plans for the phased implementation of the project. It will also include the establishment of a 5G pilot network at multiple sites in Metro Manila to validate network performance, test 5G use cases, and provide data to inform larger scale deployment.
The 5G deployment in the country is an important component of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure internet connectivity that is fast, reliable, and secure for all Filipinos.
Under the able leadership of Secretary Uy, the DICT is dedicated to the promotion of technological adoption, buildup of digital infrastructure, and boosted Internet connectivity for our country to reap the economic benefits of digital technology and to continue to lead in the global ICT experience.