Build your own cell sites?

While preparing for a trip to an island way down south, I struggled about how to program my mobile phone to be able to inform callers that I would be out of range for the entire day. In any case, I simply decided to let the telco answering machine do its job and tell callers I cannot be reached. But as it turned out, I could be reached via our Smart mobile service way, way down south where we were closer to Malaysia than to Metro Manila.

When I inquired how that was possible, I learned that our host had taken the initiative to build his own tower to house the Smart cell site equipment for mobile and data. Apparently, the structure was a temporary tower and once they determine the perfect spot, a new heavy-duty tower will be built. While the present tower was not as fancy as some of the big towers in other provinces, it was more than enough to do the job, which tells us that if we really wanted to, we could put up more cell sites all over the Philippines. As a result of his DIY tower, the staff of our host could easily coordinate with him regarding developments and requirements as well as be rest assured that in case of any emergency, they can call or send a message, unlike back in the day when I relied on a surplus military radio and a “sampayan” or solid copper wire stretched out for an antennae to reach my wife in Makati while I was working in northern Palawan.

The DIY tower reminds me of another individual who constantly needed mobile and internet services 24-7 as head of various large corporations with global transactions all hours of the day. It did not give him much of an advantage being a principal investor in a telecoms company because his communications problem had more to do with his paranoid neighbors who feared so-called mobile radiation as well as visual issues on the “ugly” view created by cell site towers. Believe it or not, those objections resulted in the development of “palm tree” cell towers covered in fiberglass that copied the outer bark of palm trees and topped with scraggly palm fronds. Some neighborhoods compromised but the rich and snooty would have none of them and refused to allow such, while “bitching” about poor signal and connectivity inside their bunker-built homes. Out of sheer frustration, one gentleman I know allegedly installed a James Bond sort of pop-up telecoms pad. Instead of a ballistic missile coming out, he would “launch” a mini tower and conduct his calls, etc.

You might think that it is only possible if you were some big-time business owner or rich dude, both of which are true for the two gents mentioned, but that was not the case for someone else who came out of Tacloban, Leyte right after Typhoon Yolanda and experienced firsthand how almost impossible it was to get things done or get help when there is no working telecommunications facility. Typhoon Yolanda wiped out all forms of communications facility in Tacloban and it was the first time that people realized they had to build back and build better.

That experience convinced the Yolanda volunteer to move heaven and earth to have a telecoms tower built on his property and made it a mission to campaign for more and more cell sites to be constructed, while waging war against corrupt local government officials of that time who were trying to make money from what was an essential need for disaster resiliency. Eighteen months later, the project was approved, and a palm tree rose inside a small lot. I was that Yolanda volunteer and our barangay now has both Smart and Globe towers. All I had to do was make the 90-square meter space available and badger friends at the telco.

The reason I’m sharing all of these is because no one in government seems to be including the urgent need to improve the investment environment for telecommunications in the Philippines as part of the development narrative or AGENDA. Past governments and officials have treated telcos as mere businesses or companies and not as fundamental needs for economic development, national security and general education as well as banking and financial transactions in the digital economy. Just making fast internet a reality nationwide will help people gain access to readily available information and tutorials online, which in turn will liberate them from ignorance because there are no schools or available mentors in far flung places.

The availability of internet and voice is crucial in the daily operations of all businesses, consumer needs and decisions, and has even become part of the score card or decision-making process for merchants and buyers, even tourists and travelers. Instagram and TikTok crazy tourists will drop any destination where there is no “good” or fast internet service.

The BBM administration has to seriously push for the improvement of the investment environment for more cell sites and telco facilities all over the country. At the very least make some of the vast lands of government available for free to the telcos to locate their cell sites and protect them from corrupt politicians and rebel extortionists. As a President who is in tune with the internet and social media, I am sure that BBM realizes that if he wants to keep the support of the younger generation, the best way is to create the needed telecoms infrastructure and accessibility for all. A functioning telecoms environment will fast track the development of our country, our economy and commerce via digital technology. PBBM needs to have a program to develop digital connectivity that will make DIY cell sites a thing of the past.