Aboitiz-Frontier Tower, Smart Communications ink common tower deal

Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. and partner Frontier Tower Associates Philippines Inc. (FTAP) agreed to lease out common telecommunication towers in the Visayas and Mindanao to Smart Communications Inc.

“The latest collaboration with Smart is in step with Aboitiz InfraCapital’s goal to ramp up the country’s connectivity through infrastructure,” Aboitiz InfraCapital chief operating officer Cosette Canilao said.

Aboitiz intends to leverage on parent Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.’s experience in building and operating provincial utility networks such as Visayan Electric, Davao Light, and Cotabato Light.

Frontier Tower will bring in its experience in operating towers across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

The opportunity to partner with Aboitiz InfraCapital and Frontier Tower can help Smart “… accelerate the delivery of wireless services to more areas nationwide,” said Smart president and CEO Alfredo Panlilio.

Aboitiz and Frontier Tower has signed a similar agreement with Globe Telecom Inc. in July covering the development of telecommunication towers in Cebu, Davao, and Subic.

Earlier this month, Smart signed a similar agreement with Malaysia-based edotco Group Sdn. Bhd. and its Philippine partner ISOC Infrastructure Inc.

Aboitiz and Frontier Tower signed on June 19 a cooperation agreement to develop, build, operate, and maintain a common tower network.

The government’s common tower initiative seeks to free telecommunications companies from costly capital expenditures in building communication towers. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News