NEA, DICT work to expand broadband access to rural areas

THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) have started exploring arrangements to bring broadband connectivity into the countryside by tapping the existing infrastructure of the electric cooperatives.

In a statement, NEA Administrator Edgardo R. Masongsong said he had met with officials of DICT headed by Acting Secretary Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. and Undersecretary Denis F. Villorente to discuss the expansion of broadband access to households in rural areas.

Mr. Rio was quoted as saying that the discussion “is very important because NEA has already access to 95% of households, especially in rural areas.”

He added that the electric cooperatives (ECs) supervised by the NEA could be Internet service providers (ISPs) in their respective coverage areas.