PHL gov't teams up with Facebook to build infra to improve internet

The Philippine government has teamed up with Facebook for the creation of a cable landing system set to improve internet speeds to as fast as 2 terabits per second by connecting the country to the rest of Asia and the United States starting 2019.

"Today, we make this landmark in information and communications technology. We are signing the agreement with Facebook and BCDA (Bases Conversion and Development Authority) to build the government's first landing stations under the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure Project," DICT officer-in-charge Eliseo Rio, Jr. said in a briefing in Taguig City.

Dubbed as the Strategic Engagement and Collaboration to Undertake a Reliable and Efficient Government Internet (Secure Gov.Net), the project aims to improve internet speeds to reach as fast as 2 Tbps.

Under the partnership, Facebook will construct and operate a cable system that will land in the cable stations in Baler, Aurora and in Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union.

"The cable will provide direct connection from Luzon to the internet hubs in the US and Asia," Rio said.

Facebook will also provide a spectrum equivalent to at least 2 million megabits per second or 2 terabits per second.

According to Rio, this is close to the current combined capacity of internet providers Globe Telecom Inc. and PLDT Inc.

For its part, the BCDA will build the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure which will host the cable systems.

Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) will build the national backbone and the last mile internet connection.

"It will be operational from 2019 until 2044 with DICT at the helm," Rio said.

President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the development of a National Broadband Plan (NBP) which would improve the internet speeds in the country during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last year. —ALG, GMA News