Dito likely to miss technical launch

Third telecommunications player Dito Telecommunity is likely to hit the first of its two allowed “strikes” within its five year-commitment period as disruptions brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has prevented it from completing the necessary number of cell sites in time for next week’s deadline.

In a Senate hearing yesterday, Dito chief administrative officer Adel Tamano said of the 1,300 cell towers the company is currently building, only 300 have been completed.

He said the others are in still various stages of development.

“To get the 37 percent coverage that is our requirement under our CPCN (certificate of public convenience and necessity), we need 1,300 towers,” Tamano said.

“The COVID and lockdowns have prevented us from our full rollout. With the subsequent easing of the different lockdown situations, we are doing our best to get back on track so that we can get the 37 percent first year requirement under our CPCN completed,” he said.

Within the year, however, Tamano said Dito hopes to finish 2,000 towers which will exceed the 37 percent requirement under its CPCN.