TELECOM | ARTA, Smart co-host the 2nd telco workshop on energizing telco towers
The telco workshop series aims to further address the bottlenecks in the permitting, licensing, and authorizing process involved in the energization of telecommunications towers in the Philippines.
Alfredo S. Panlilio (left), PLDT and Smart president and chief executive and Gerald G. Divinagracia, Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) deputy director general for operations undersecretary kicked off a workshop on process mapping of telco towers’ energization, an ARTA initiative that reinforces its mandate of ensuring compliance to the national policy on anti-red tape and ease of doing business in the country (RA No. 11032). PLDT Group’s support aligns with a focus area of the Private Sector Advisory Council’s (PSAC) Digital Infrastructure pillar, where Panlilio sits as a founding member, aimed at accelerating the rollout of telco towers and internet infrastructure. Source: Smart Communications.
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) through its Better Regulations Office (BRO) is all set for the 2nd Workshop for Process Mapping the Energization of Telecommunications Towers with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Independent Tower Companies (ITCs), and National Government Agencies (NGAs) on 4 July 2023, at Ascott Makati in Glorietta 4 Ayala Center, Makati City, hosted by Smart Communications.
As part of ARTA’s ‘Bayanihan’ initiatives, the telco workshop series aims to further address the bottlenecks in the permitting, licensing, and authorizing process involved in the energization of telecommunications towers in the Philippines, and to improve connectivity in the far-flung areas.
On the first workshop co-hosted by Globe Telecom last 19 May 2023, several concerns were highlighted such as the non-standardized processes, delays and confusion, inconsistent fees and requirements, and the lack of coordination and communication involved in energizing telco towers.
Moving forward, the 2nd Telco Workshop aims to address the said issues and to forge a collaboration stream for National Government Agencies (NGAs), Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), and Independent Tower Companies (ITCs) to provide faster internet connection for the whole country.
In addition to the inter-agency and public-private collaboration, the upcoming workshop is organized to provide a platform for the concerned government agencies and private sector partners to present and share their recommended practices in fast-tracking the energization of telco towers.
These efforts in improving the telco sector’s service delivery are to support the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to fast-track all government transactions and to improve bureaucratic efficiency in the country.
At the coming workshop event, ARTA Secretary Ernesto V. Perez will deliver opening remarks to reiterate the Authority’s mandate under the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) law and to promote streamlining and digitalization of all government processes and procedures through a whole-of-nation approach.
Along with the ARTA Chief, the President and CEO of PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. Alfredo S. Panlilio will deliver a message of support to the 2nd Telco Workshop in solidarity with the Authority’s efforts in improving the telco sector through public-private collaborations.
The confirmed participants from the NGAs are representatives from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the National Electrification Administration (NEA), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Philippine Association of Building Officials (PABO), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
From the MNOs, the confirmed participants are representatives from Globe Telecom, Smart Communications Inc., PLDT Inc., Converge ICT Solutions Inc., and DITO Telecommmunity. And the anticipated representatives from the ITCs are from the ISON Towers Inc., the SBA Towers, the PhilTower Consortium Inc., the Transcend Towers Infrastructure (Philippines) Inc., the LBS Digital Infrastructure Corp, the EDOTCO Philippines, the CEEC Tower Inc. (China Energy Equipment Co. Ltd), the Desarrollos Terrestres Inc., the SkyTower Inc., the Tiger Infrastructure Inc., the Aboitiz InfraCapital, the Zeal Power Construction and Development Corp., the Alliance Towers Corporation, the Communication And Renewable Energy Infrastructure (CREI) Philippines, Inc., the EdgePoint Towers Inc, and the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) or Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corporation (MIESCOR).
Other participants also include representatives from the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (PhilRECA), the World Bank Group, the USAID – Better Access and Connectivity Project Team, and the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
ARTA, furthermore commits to continue improving the bureaucratic efficiency in the regulatory system in addressing connectivity issues in the Philippines, as better connectivity will ensure the digital transformation of all government processes and procedures.
As a strong advocate of public-private partnership, ARTA Secretary Perez is looking forward to the success of the workshop to strengthen more collaborations with the private stakeholders in the telco sector to improve public service delivery in the Philippines.
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