NGCP offers free use of facilities for gov’t broadband

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is willing to participate in the government’s National Broadband plan by allowing the government to use NGCP’s fiber optics network at no cost.

In an open letter to President Duterte, NGCP said it is willing and eager to participate in the government’s offer to develop a national broadband network.

“NGCP has always been supportive of this administration’s initiatives towards the use of the dark fiber inherent to the transmission network for the development of the National Broadband Program (NBP),” it said.

The grid operator outlined its efforts to support government’s plan to improve internet speed in the country.

It said that In May 2017, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and NGCP met to discuss the NGCP’s dark fiber network, and how this could potentially be used to support the NBP.

During that meeting, representatives of the DICT were invited to visit NGCP’s Dasmariñas Substation to inspect the fiber optic cables embedded in the transmission system.

“NGCP drafted and sent to the DICT, a memorandum of understanding that will provide the protocol for the inspection and use of our facilities. Since this is a priority project of the government, it was our understanding that, the same would be considered, signed and reported to you in time for the 2017 State of the Nation Address,” NGCP said.

DICT representatives again visited NGCP’s Araneta Substation and the National Control Center in Quezon City in June 2017.

However, despite all these activities, NGCP and DICT have not gotten to signing the MOU.

“We would like to reiterate our support of the NBP and we are ready to sit down and sign a bilateral agreement with the DICT for the use by government of NGCP’s fiber optic network,” NGCP said.

The NBP, approved by President Duterte in March last year, serves as the blue print for broadband infrastructure to interconnect government offices in the country and for providing internet access to individuals not currently served by telcos.

Last December, DICT expressed optimism on signing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with NGCP for the use of fiber optic cable network, but nothing has materialized since then.

Through a 25-year concession contract, NGCP operates about 5,000 to10,000 fiber optic cables of existing fiber optic facilities that run from Luzon to Mindanao for internal communication purposes.