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Telecom watchdog calls for digital-ready policy regime
June 10, 2021 | 12:07 am
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TELECOM Tower Watch is calling for a new regulatory regime that could help develop a nationwide digital infrastructure to meet growing demand for fast and reliable connectivity in an emerging digital ecosystem.
In a statement, Telecom Tower Watch, which describes itself as a digital infrastructure watchdog, said Congress “must update obsolete laws and regulations to be digital ready and to be responsive to new technologies that are essential in developing a thriving digital economy.”
It said Republic Act No. 3846, which regulates radio communications, and the proposed Open Access in Data Transmission bill if passed into law “will require telecommunications companies to secure separate franchises for voice and digital data services even when both operations utilize the same network infrastructure.”
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has its eyes on common telecommunications towers with an objective to expand its reach of mobile services to underserved areas.
In an update posted at the Telecom Tower Watch, DICT Undersecretary for Digital Philippines Emmanuel Rey R. Caintic expresses the government body’s desire for the investment, which, additionally, is said to be “complete with radio access network and Internet Protocol back haul.”
With “commercially unviable places hungry for cellular signals” in mind, Caintic stated how they are coordinating with Congress in order to tap on untouched funds from the Spectrum Users Fee reserved for FREE WIFI for Public Places for the essential digital infrastructure.
Published May 8, 2021, 7:00 AM
The Department on Information and Communications Technology (DICT) plans to invest in common telecommunications towers to expand mobile services to underserved areas of the country.
“DICT wishes to invest in common towers for missionary sites, complete with radio access network and Internet Protocol back haul,” DICT Undersecretary for Digital Philippines Emmanuel Rey R. Caintic said in a posted update of Telecom Tower Watch,
Caintic said they are working with Congress on legislation allowing DICT to utilize untapped funds from the Spectrum Users Fee reserved for FREE WIFI for Public Places for digital infrastructure which in turn “will allow us to build common infrastructure in commercially unviable places hungry for cellular signals.”