Telco commits to upgrade services

Smart Telecommunications Inc. on Tuesday committed to put up 90 cellular sites until 2020 with a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) connection to upgrade its services in the mainland and island municipalities. Atty. Anthony Louen Fernandez, Smart’s Legal and Regulatory Group manager told local officials during the provincial board’s 4uestion Hour they will put up new 18 sites in Aborlan, Brooke’s Point, Busuanga, Coron, El Nido, San Vicente, Sofronio Espanola, Taytay and Puerto Princesa. “These 18 sites are expected to be finished by the end of this year. For 2019 there will be 46 additional cellular sites. This year we have committed to activating a total 26 LTE sites to be provided with LTE service. In 2018, 2019, and 2020 there will be a total of 90 sites with an LTE,” Fernandez said. Currently, he said a fiber optic cable line from Puerto Princesa to El Nido is under construction and is expected for completion before the end of the year. He said that Smart has already activated LTE sites in Barangay Manlag and Libertad in El Nido, and in Barangay Port Barton and Poblacion in San Vicente. Following Smart’s presentation, the provincial board passed a resolution proposed by Board Member Al Rama urging local government units and other concern agencies to provide a special lane for the application of telecommunication companies to speed up their upgrading activities. Meanwh i le, Fernandez said that they will regularly update the provincial government on the progress of their upgrading activities. “Every year end we will come to report our accomplishments and also get the feedback of the members if there other areas that you want us to prioritize,” he said.