Government to build 10,000 towers to expand internet reach

The national government is eyeing to build around 10,000 independent common towers to help expand the reach of broadband connection, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

This will be in addition to the 2,374 towers that are currently under the supervision of the national government, through the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

DICT spokesperson Renato Paraiso said the plan is a way of giving emphasis to digital connectivity, especially that the Philippines is currently ranked 41st in the world, according to the Telecom Review. 

Another data from the DICT also disclosed that 65 percent of the country's population is still not connected to the internet. International research company Statista Research Department, on the other hand, said 77.81 percent of the Filipino population will only have an internet connection by 2028 in its current phase.

Highlighting the importance of what he described as digital infostructures, according to Paraiso, is essential as President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address (SONA) nears. 

"Well, again, I think with this year's SONA, one of the highlights will be the support, strengthening our  digital infostructures,” said Paraiso.

Based on the 2021 data of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), there are more than 22,000 cell sites in the country, less than a third of Vietnam's 90,000, and they are shared between three telcos.

In a meeting last April, the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) also recommended to President Marcos the allocation of P608 billion annually to DICT to help build more digital infrastructure and expand internet coverage in the country.

Marcos has been supportive of improving the country's broadband connection and projects to reach around 70 million Filipinos by 2026 under the National Fiber Backbone Project.