Think tank wants DND to reject AFP-Dito telecom tower deal

Infrastructure-oriented think tank Infrawatch PH on Wednesday called on the Department of National Defense (DND) to reject a recently signed agreement allowing Dito Telecommunity Corp. to put up telecommunication towers inside military camps.

Infrawatch cited “national and cybersecurity concerns” if the government does not reject the agreement.

“The unfortunate handicap of Dito Telecommunity is the undisputed fact that Chinese state-owned China Telecom owns a major stake (40%) in the country’s third major telco player,” Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon said in a statement.

“No less than the DICT has subjected Dito to cybersecurity monitoring due to national security concerns. Having its towers built in military camps absolutely compromises the country’s cybersecurity posture,” he said.

Dito Tel, formerly Mislatel Consortium, was declared by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) as the new major player in the telecommunications industry last November.

The company counts as shareholders Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp., its subsidiary Chelsea Logistics Holdings Inc., and state-owned China Telecommunications Corp.

Earlier this month, the company signed an agreement with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to build cellular towers inside military camps across the country.

AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo earlier said the government has put up appropriate safeguards to address this concern.

This was mirrored by Malacañang on Wednesday, saying that concerns have been thoroughly addressed by security and information technology experts.

“These are matters which we hope Secretary Lorenzana will consider in determining whether to approve the AFP-Dito deal,” Ridon said.

“Inasmuch as we would like to break the telco duopoly, we cannot do it at the expense of national and cybersecurity,” he added. —VDS, GMA News