Improve telecoms infrastructure for better internet connectivity

IN THE Philippines, it takes eight months to secure at least 25 necessary permits and documents on building cell towers, which are important in improving internet signals in different areas.

Globe said in a statement that local government units (LGUs) also impose their own requirements, slowing down the deployment of cell sites.

“Aside from LGU permits, HOAs, exclusive subdivisions, and building administrators also impose certain guidelines and requirements based on the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) Resolution No. R-626 issued in 1998,” Globe said.

The telecommunications giant said that based on the latest data from TowerXchange and We Are Social, as of the first half of 2018, there are some 16,600 cell sites spread across the country serving some 67 million internet users. This translates to a user-per-cell site density of 4,036.

In comparison, Vietnam has some 70,000 cell sites serving 64 million internet users with a user-per-cell site density of 914. Indonesia has around 91,700 cell sites serving 133 million internet users with a user-per-cell site density of 1446.

“Consumer demand for mobile data is growing at an explosive rate. This means more and more cellular towers have to be deployed to keep up with the demand. But deployment is only the final step to a potentially long, costly site acquisition process,” Globe Chief Technology and Information Officer Gil Genio said in a statement.

Former Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said the country needs at least 50,000 additional towers to improve telecommunication services in the country.

In a bid to improve telecommunication services in the country and hasten the construction of cell sites, the government is pushing for the construction of common towers.

“So here, we have the common towers that can solve the problem. Plus the fact that you will have added investments come in that will be a big help. This will be driven by market forces,” Rio was quoted saying in a Philippine News Agency report.

Under the government’s common towers initiative, DICT will provide assistance to common tower providers (CTPs) “in the processing of government requirements, such as local and national government permits, as long as CTPs are able to secure an agreement with one of the telecommunication firms.”

The towers will be shared by two or more telecommunication firms.

With the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic forcibly pushing the Philippines to hasten adapting to a more digitally-driven society, it is crucial for the government and private firms to improve telecommunication services and infrastructure as soon as possible.

The government plays a crucial role, especially this time, by creating an environment that will allow telecommunication firms to improve their services. This can be done by streamlining processes when it comes to building telecommunications infrastructure.

Improving telecommunication services and infrastructure in the Philippines has been frustratingly slow. Filipinos would not have been ranting on social media right now if things have been done right in the beginning. The government would not have to request streaming services to lower their bandwidth in the Philippines if a proactive approach was taken to improve telecommunication services.

The improvement of the telecommunications services in the country is imperative, now that schools and businesses have expanded their digital initiatives and processes. Good luck