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DICT eyes using 'untapped funds' for common towers

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - The Department of Information and Communications Technology is interested in investing in common towers in commercially unviable areas, a DICT official said Thursday. </p><p>“DICT wishes to invest in common towers for missionary sites, complete with radio access network and Internet Protocol backhaul,&quot; DICT Undersecretary for Digital Philippines Emmanuel Rey Caintic said according to the agency&#x27;s Telecom Tower Watch post.</p><p>Caintic said the agency is working with the Congress for legislation to use &quot;untapped funds&quot; to build common infrastructure.</p><p>Another joint memorandum circular to further hasten the permitting process for cell tower infrastructure is being developed, he said. </p><p>The country&#x27;s second coronavirus response law or the <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/08/24/20/streamlining-permits-under-bayanihan-2-to-help-dramatically-increase-telco-towers-globe">Bayanihan 2</a> also has a provision for a streamlined permitting process for tower builds. </p><p>DICT reiterated its call to local authorities not to delay ongoing construction projects which have already been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>Common towers are expected to allow competing telecommunications providers to offer services to more areas in the country. </p><p>Former DICT officer-in-charge Eliseo Rio said the country wants some <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/27/18/government-wants-50000-cell-sites-in-5-years-dict-chief">50,000 towers</a> built in the next 5 years. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/23/20/govt-cuts-red-tape-in-permits-needed-to-build-common-towers">Govt cuts red tape in permits needed to build common towers</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/29/20/telcos-urged-to-take-full-advantage-of-common-tower-initiative-dict">Telcos urged to take &#x27;full advantage&#x27; of common tower initiative: DICT</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1679124" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The Department of Information and Communications Technology is interested in investing in common towers in commercially unviable areas, a DICT official said Thursday. </p>

The Department of Information and Communications Technology is interested in investing in common towers in commercially unviable areas, a DICT official said Thursday.