DICT to improve PH web thru ‘digital connectivity’ plan

The program, he said, is divided into three distinct parts — the provision of national broadband for national and local government, “Free WiFi For All” sites for the public, and the expedited release of common tower policies. (Shutterstock photo)

MANILA – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is eyeing the improvement of internet service in the country through a three-pronged “digital connectivity” program.

During the online pre-State of the Nation Address forum on Wednesday, DICT Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Caintic said the DICT’s primary plan on improving the country’s communications is laid out in its digital connectivity program.

The program, he said, is divided into three distinct parts — the provision of national broadband for national and local government, “Free WiFi For All” sites for the public, and the expedited release of common tower policies.

“Una, yung paglatag natin ng national broadband na gagamitin sa ating mga ahensya ng gobyerno pati na rin ng ating mga eskwelahan at mga opisina ng mga local governments (First, the installation of a national broadband that will be used by our national government as well as schools and offices of local governments),” Caintic said.

He said the Free Wifi for All program aims to provide free internet connection to WiFi-enabled devices in public areas throughout the country.

This would include the building of “Tech4Ed” centers and digital transformation centers nationwide that would provide free trainings and “giving the marginalized access to digital opportunities”.

Another important part of the national digital connectivity program is the immediate rollout of the DICT’s common tower policy that would allow third-party companies to build telecommunications towers for use by the country’s telecommunications companies (telcos).

“Para bumilis ang internet at lumawak ang coverage ng mga telcos, ay kailangan nila ng tulong na makalatag ng mabilis at makapag-tayo din ng mga (To increase internet speeds and coverage of telcos, they need help to allow for the speedy rollout and building of towers),” Caintic said.

Earlier, the DICT said it aims to lessen the required permits for the building of common towers by 52 percent this year.

In collaboration with the Anti-Red Tape Authority, it said it will ensure “streamlined permitting requirements and procedures” for independent tower companies.