Dito hurdles 2nd network review, reaches new coverage, speed milestones

Dito Telecommunity, the country’s newest mobile player, passed its second mandated network review, reaching new coverage and internet speed milestones, according to parent firm DITO CME Holdings.

The network audit, a requirement under its government license to operate a telecommunications service, was meant to ensure Dito Telecommunity met its rollout commitments until 2024.

For its second audit, Dito Telecommunity reached a population converge of 52.75 percent while its minimum average internet speed hit 80.13 megabits per second on its 4G network and 858.96 Mbps for 5G.

These were above the company’s commitments to bring services to 51.01 percent of the population and offer internet speeds of 55 Mbps.

Details of the audit were disclosed by DITO CME, which cited the findings of an independent auditor that were given to the National Telecommunications Commission.

The full report was not disclosed.

Dito Telecommunity, which holds a telco franchise via Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co., won an auction for radio frequencies in 2018 after being selected as the country’s third major telecommunications provider.

This was a Duterte-administration backed program to introduce new competition in the telco sector.

Dito Telecommunity is owned by Davao-based businessman Dennis A. Uy and China Telecom. As noted, its telco license was unique since it was tied to a five-year commitment period, during which it would be subjected to regular technical audits. Should Dito Telecommunity repeatedly breach its commitments, the government will recall its radio frequencies and seize a multibillion peso bond.

Dito Telecommunity made its commercial debut in Mindanao and Visayas last March 8. By May this year, it had expanded to Metro Manila.

In a recent statement, Dito chief administrative officer Adel Tamano said the company had reached nearly 3 million subscribers since its debut. INQ