Broadband project seen in next few months

National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) expects the implementation of the national broadband project to begin “in the next months” after it signed a memorandum of understanding with the state-owned National Transmission Corp. (Transco) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

“We welcome this opportunity to take part in the National Broadband Program (NBP) of the government to address the longstanding issue of internet connection quality in the Philippines,” the company said in a statement.

“We are eager to experience not only the improvement of internet speed but also free Wi-Fi access in public areas,” NGCP added. “We hope for the successful implementation of the (NBP) in the next months.”

Last week, Transco president Melvin Matibag said the country was “well on the road” to attaining “fast internet speed at no charge in selected public places.”

The deal with NGCP and DICT relate to broadband for government use, but Matibag said the benefit would be experienced in “parks, plazas, public libraries, schools, government offices, hospitals, train stations, airports and seaports nationwide.”

“This will also help hasten the processing of licenses, permits, clearances and other government issuances nationwide,” Matibag said.

The Transco chief executive expressed relief that a deal with NGCP was finally made, considering that the Department of Science and Technology  started the project seven years ago and was continued by DICT following its creation in 2016.

Matibag thanked NGCP for allowing the free use of the dark fiber in the transmission lines for use in the NBP.

“I am happy that despite our differences, NGCP and Transco, as the concessionaire and the owner of the transmission facilities, have partnered to deliver this gift to the Filipino people,” he said.

NGCP and Transco were earlier at odds on who had the say on the use of the transmission assets and on who was in the position to be the DICT’s partner for the project.