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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DICT warns: Beware of 'unverified' tower companies

DICT warns: Beware of 'unverified' tower companies

Published Oct 2, 2024 07:11 am

The Department of Information and Communications and Technology (DICT) has warned the public against unverified tower companies claiming to be telecommunication tower providers in the country and seeking to purchase properties to be used as tower sites.
 

In a statement posted on Facebook, the DICT said it “has received information that several unverified independent tower companies (ITCs) are requesting information and/or proposing to purchase properties as sites for cellular towers, introducing themselves as the 3rd Telecommunity Tower provider in the Philippines.”
 

“The DICT informs the public that said companies are in no way connected to this office nor said actions are sanctioned by the Philippine government. The general public is advised to exercise extreme caution and due diligence when handing sensitive information to unverified and unauthorized ITC entities," it added.
 

The agency said they already reported the issue on Aug. 14 as Senate tackled Senate Bill 2699, of the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, which aims to “modernize” the country’s digital infrastructure, but stakeholders said the proposed measure will relax restrictions that are critical to security.
 

Policy think-tank Stratbase ADR Institute expressed alarm over the measure “because it could open the door for foreign actors to launch cyberattacks against the digital infrastructure of PH.”
 

The research policy center said that if passed into law, SB 2699 will “bypass the congressional franchise requirement for the use of the country’s radio frequency spectrum” and “weaken the regulatory oversight function of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).”
 

But the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is pushing for the bill, with NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan saying it is “crucial” to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
 

During the sixth Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) last week, he renewed the call for the expedited passage of the bill, which has been approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives and is currently awaiting plenary deliberation in the Senate.

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