Globe Telecom urges govt to ease regulations on new cell sites

Globe Telecom on Thursday urged the government anew to ease the process of establishing new cell sites, noting that Metro Manila is the most "problematic area" to do so.

"Metro Manila is critical in the deployment of new cell sites as many of our customers are also concentrated in this area. However, there is a myriad of issues that restrains realization of our plans to establish more cell sites in the area and improve the internet experience of our customers," Joel Agustin, Senior Vice President for Program Governance, Network Technical Group, said in a statement.

According to Globe, the issues encountered during the deployment of new cell sites range from the opposition of neighbors and homeowners associations to "political bickering." 

According to Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu, the easing of regulations on new cell sites would help the Philippines grow its internet backbone and enable local businesses to remain competitive "amid rapid digitization." 

Telecom operators currently need to secure an average of 25 permits at the local government level.

It takes at least eight months to process the papers for building a single cell site.

The actual construction of the infrastructure, costing an average of P18 million per site, adds to the timeline of the project.

Globe earlier called for the passage of the Open Access Law which would speed up the issuance of relevant permits for all telecommunications facilities at the local government level.

"As a requirement for its capacity expansion drive, Globe needs to improve cell site density, a necessary prerequisite in improving data connectivity of its customers in terms of speed and access," the company said. 

Earlier this year, the Ayala-led company said it has set a capital expenditure guidance of $750 million a year for the next three years primarily to fill in the network's infrastructure gaps.  — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VVP, GMA News