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Telecommunications startup Dito Telecommunity is determined to meet its 2021 launch target while fending off espionage concerns over its strategic partner China Telecom, a state-owned company.
During a press conference on Thursday, Dito assured that he would meet the new technical audit deadline in January next year, putting him on the right track to launch a rival telecom service and challenge incumbent operators PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom for March 2021.
Dito announced the completion of 859 cell sites as of September 13 of this year. By next month, the company would be finishing 1,300 sites, which will allow it to meet the initial population coverage of 37 percent.
Its network capabilities would be validated by the government and an independent auditor in January 2021, the new deadline after Dito won a six-month extension on July 8, citing delays from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Based on that figure, we will be more than ready for our technical audit,” said Dito’s chief technology officer, Rodolfo Santiago, during the press conference. He said the company also plans to finish this year with more than 2,000 cell sites. In addition to the wireless infrastructure, Dito has completed 5,701 kilometers of internet cables.
Dito, backed by Davao businessman Dennis Uy and state-owned China Telecom, released new updates and dismissed concerns that his network will become a spy tool for China. Philippine Sea.
According to Dito’s managing director, Adel Tamano, the company is controlled by the Filipinos, Uy’s group owns a 60 percent stake, and the rest is owned by foreigners.
This is in line with the limit set by the Philippine Constitution. However, Congress is trying to modify this to allow foreigners to take 100 percent ownership in selected industries, including telecommunications.
Tamano said he was not aware of any plans for China Telecom, which provides technology expertise and investments to the company, to eventually increase its stake. “There is no truth when people say that Dito is a Chinese company,” Tamano said.
Citing the advanced technology of China Telecom, especially in the area of 5G, the next generation mobile standard, Tamano said that its entry into the Philippines was a “bright spot for our country and our economy.”
New concerns arose after an agreement signed between Dito and the Philippine government to build telecommunications equipment within military camps, just as PLDT and Globe had done.
But Dito officials said they were subject to stricter requirements and, unlike their rivals, would pay the government in cash for using their land.
Santiago added that the Armed Forces of the Philippines would prohibit non-Filipinos from entering the camps and also has the right to terminate the agreement if national security risks arise.
Dito previously announced that it would hire US cybersecurity firm Fortinet as its primary cybersecurity provider.
Tamano said the company was spending P1 billion by 2020 on cybersecurity as part of its committed spending of P150 billion in its first year.
Dito’s selection is part of the Duterte administration’s goal to increase competition in telecommunications. It was also the first telecommunications company to be subject to strict performance standards.
If you repeatedly fail to meet these commitments, the national government would take your P25.7 billion performance bond and withdraw your assigned radio frequencies.
Under the five-year commitment period, the company would cover up to 84 percent of the population and offer an average minimum internet speed of 55 megabits per second.
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