MANILA -DITO Telecommunity, along with its partner global technology company Huawei, has launched a pilot project involving installation of street level 5G micro sites at Dasmariñas Village in Makati City.
In a statement on Wednesday, the third telco player said the project was in line with providing connectivity solutions in private subdivisions where setting up telecommunication infrastructure could be challenging.
“Connectivity in and around private subdivisions has always been an issue wherein homeowners demand for internet service and yet continue to be wary of allowing telco companies to put up towers,” DITO said.
For the pilot project, DITO installed the micro sites in street lamp posts at strategic locations around the village.
The project intends to provide coverage for the entire village.
“DITO has provided a solution that is the first of its kind in the Philippines that is aimed at breaking this impasse together with our partner solutions provider Huawei for this project,” said DITO chief technology officer Rodolfo Santiago. For restricted areas
He added that the stand-alone 5G connectivity solution “has far reaching effects especially for areas where tower-building is prohibited or not allowed.”
“This launch is testament to the ongoing commitment of DITO in the Philippines to provide world class service to our countrymen wherever they may be,” Santiago stressed.
Apart from this project, DITO earlier announced its plan to pilot test satellite technology within the year to provide further connectivity across the country, especially in remote areas where such technology usually lacks.
Santiago said they were in talks with several potential partners, including OneWeb Network Access Associates Ltd., a company based in the United Kingdom.
He said they were in “advanced stage” of discussion with the satellite provider but the deal has yet to be secured. Still, Santiago said they were expecting it to be finalized “as soon as possible.”
In launching satellite connectivity services, the DITO official stressed the need for a carrier-grade infrastructure. This means that the technology should enable consistent internet speed for the users all the time.
Among the areas that would benefit from the satellite technology are the provinces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao and some mountainous areas in Luzon and Visayas, he said.
DITO, meanwhile, is also set to introduce postpaid plans and enter into the enterprise segment in June as part of its initiatives to acquire more customers.
—Tyrone Jasper C. Piad
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