Globe Telecom first to lease 150 towers from builders

Globe Telecom Inc. is leasing the first common telecommunications towers that will rise in the Calabarzon region under the government’s common tower policy.

In a press conference in Taguig City on Monday, common tower providers ISOC Infrastructure Inc. and Malaysia-based edotco Group Sdn. Bhd. said they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to put up 150 towers in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.

ISOC and edotco will co-own the towers, with Globe as their initial lessor. But the towers may also be leased out to other telcos such as PLDT Inc. and Mislatel.

The government’s policy seeks to free telecommunications companies from costly capital expenditures in building communication towers.

“The initial phase of our partnership will focus in the Calabarzon area, working on about 150 sites for starters. As we see success in this partnership we will expand the rollout area,” said Vincent Tempongko, Globe vice president for site acquisition and management, told reporters.

“Hopefully, in the next six to 12 months or sooner, if they’ll be able to put it up, sooner we’ll be able to have sites," Tempongko explained.

ISOC and edotco signified their intent to build common towers in the country, and lease them out to telecommunications companies.

“ISOC and edotco are committed to help provide the Filipino people the information highway they deserve with the common tower initiative,” said ISOC chairman Michael Cosiquien.

“We have partnered with governments, regulators and operators in all the countries in which we are present and have a wealth of best practices that we hope to implement here,” said Suresh Sidhu, CEO of edotco.

Established in 2012, edotco Group operates and manages a regional portfolio of over 30,000 towers across the core markets of Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

It currently operates 18,500 towers, and some 11,500 managed through a range of services provided by the company.

Following the MOU, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said it hopes to finalize in the coming days a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the common tower providers and telecommunications companies.

“The MOA we will sign with ISOC, edotco partnership will really be focused, really be with Globe," DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio said. —VDS, GMA New