cellular towers

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is planning to build cellular towers that can be leased to telecommunications companies in an effort to improve wireless services in the country. In a report by GMA News Online, DICT Undersecretary Eliseo Rio told reporters that the DICT wants to build cellular towers through a public-private partnership (PPP), meaning the government will partner with a private company for the project. The towers, once ready for use, will be leased to telecommunications companies, making it easier for them to expand their services. "In putting up towers, Globe and Smart needs to recover their investment. In a deal worth Php77 billion, PLDT has officially sold close to 6,000 cell towers and related passive telecom infrastructure of Smart and Sun Cellular to foreign investors. The cell towers were sold to edotco and EdgePoint, making the two foreign companies the largest common tower operators in the Philippines. PLDT will also be renting these same towers for the next 10 years for use with Smart's network. The move is said to free PLDT from costly maintenance of these towers in the long run. Read more in our articles including "DICT plans to build cell towers that can be leased to telcos" and "5,907 Smart, Sun Cellular towers sold for Php77 billion".