DITO targets to finish 4,500 cell towers by December
DITO Telecommunity Corp. targets to complete 4,500 cell towers by December as part of its nationwide expansion, a company official said on Thursday.
“As of today, DITO has built over 3,000 towers, and we are now preparing for our second technical audit by July 8,” DITO Chief Technology Officer Rodolfo D. Santiago said at an online forum organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
“By yearend, we hope to complete 4,500 towers,” Mr. Santiago added.
He said the number of cell towers that DITO aims to construct this year does not include the support it has extended to the common tower initiative of the DICT.
The company also announced on Thursday that its mobile services are now available in 140 areas nationwide.
“Following our June 12 announcement of DITO being commercially available in 123 cities as a means to commemorate the 123rd Independence Day celebration, we are pleased to inform everyone that we have added 17 new areas as of June 30,” DITO Chief Administrative Officer Adel A. Tamano said in a statement.
The added areas are in Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas, Negros Occidental, and Misamis Oriental.
DITO Telecommunity is currently capable of serving 37.48% of the country’s population based on the technical audit report by R.G. Manabat & Co.
It has a commitment to cover 84% of the population by the end of its fifth year of commercial operations.
“DITO targets to cover 51% of the population and reach an average speed of 55 megabits per second (Mbps) next year.
The company has committed to invest over P250 billion to improve the telco industry in the country.
DITO spent P150 billion last year, and it targets to spend P26 billion more this year.
It aims to increase the “speeds to 10 times of what is currently experienced,” Mr. Santiago said. — Arjay L. Balinbin
