3rd telco lists 15 sites for March 8 commercial launch

Dito Telecommunity has identified the initial 15 areas in Metro Davao and Metro Cebu for its March 8 commercial launch.

For Metro Davao, Dito will be available in Davao City, Carmen, Digos, Tagum and Panabo. In Metro Cebu, Dito will launch in Cebu City, Carcar, Consolacion, Danao, Liloan, Mandaue, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando and Talisay.

Dito chief administration officer Adel Tamano previously explained the company’s commercial launch would be conducted in waves and that services in Metro Manila and parts of Luzon would be available by June 2021.

The commercial launch this month is a requirement under Dito’s franchise.

It is significant because it marks the beginning of actual mobile services to paying subscribers and fresh competition for incumbents PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom.

Unlike other telco providers, Dito—a venture between Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy and China Telecom—is also tied to a five-year commitment period that runs until 2024.During this time, it would need to meet internet speed and population coverage milestones that it promised during the 2018 auction for the third major telco license.

Last month, the National Telecommunications Commission and an independent auditor confirmed Dito passed its first network test proving it covered 37 percent of the country’s population and could offer a minimum average internet speed of 27 megabits per second.

Dito will have its second network audit on July 8 this year. The company previously committed to cover 51 percent of the population and provide a minimum average internet speed of 55 Mbps.

Rodolfo Santiago, Dito chief technology officer, said they could meet the coverage requirement while the speed test would rely on Dito’s deployment of fifth generation (5G) sites.

By the end of its commitment period, Dito should reach 84 percent of the Philippine population and offer a minimum average internet speed of 55 Mbps. INQ