THE GOVERNMENT’S plan to install a national broadband network is on track to be rolled out in 2019 with the expected outlay now “roughly less than P20 billion” due to access to the backbone of the power grid.
Now that we have National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and National Transmission Corp. (TransCo), that’s a big chunk removed from the budget. The funding needed is probably roughly less than P20 billion now,” acting secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. told reporters on Tuesday.
He said since TransCo and privately owned NGCP signed an agreement with the department, the DICT is now concentrating on the so-called “middle mile” services to be provided by telcos, and possibly the incoming third telco player. This is opposed to “the last mile,” which is the final linkup between the network and end users.
“They will be the one to link the backbone to the point of presence in the provinces. And from the point of presence from each province and municipality, that’s where the small players will get their last mile,” Mr. Rio said.
He added that the bidding is ongoing, conducted by the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC), with two bids having arrived for nationwide services.
“If I’m not mistaken, we’re bidding out about P1.7 billion. So it’s about 8,000 to 9,000 access points nationwide,” Mr. Rio said.
Mr. Rio added that the focus this year is the feasibility study for the project. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is in charge of preparing a report outlining the development phases of the plan.
By 2019, the DICT expects to receive the budget for the implementation of the national broadband plan, subject to the Congressional appropriations process.
The national broadband network is the government’s program to bring free and reliable Internet to areas not covered by private companies. It was stalled last year because of a disagreement between NGCP and TransCo. — Denise A. Valdez
