To fast track its mobile network rollout, Smart Comunications, Inc. revealed that the company has tapped 6 tower companies.
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Smart cell site |
To fast track 4G LTE and 5G network rollout
With the approval of the simplified permit process for common towers, Smart will be able to speed up its mobile network rollout and upgrades by tapping common tower companies.
These companies include Phil Tower Consortium, ISOC edotco Towers, Inc., Frontier Tower Associates Philippines, Inc., ALT Global Solutions, Inc., Communication and Renewable Energy Infrastructure (CREI) Phils., Inc., and Ison Tower Ltd. Inc.
Smart has signed agreements with the companies to build a pilot batch of almost 200 macro cell sites to support the companies expansion program for its 4G LTE and 5G services.
The company said that it is currently finalizing agreements with four more tower builders.
The agreements were made to support the government's common tower program aiming to improve internet speeds and coverage nationwide through the construction of new cell sites. It is also a part of PLDT and Smart's broader effort to improve services, particularly for data, across the country.
To date, Smart claimed that its mobile service is available in 93 percent of the country's municipalities serving 95 percent of the population.
In a span of 5 years from 2015 to 2019, the PLDT Group has invested a total of PHP 260 billion to improve its network. In 2020, amid lockdown restrictions, PLDT has leveled up its capex for 2020 to about PHP 70 billion.
In total, the country has less than 20,000 towers which are way below the ideal 50,000 figure. So, more of these towers are needed.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier hit the slow process of securing permits. Following that, local government units acted quickly on his order, approving more than 1,000 applications from telco firms.
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