PLDT-Smart to roll out 2,000 new cell sites in 2021

PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications Inc. said Friday it was rolling out an additional 2,000 cell sites next year as part of its initiative to further improve coverage and connectivity.

In a statement, PLDT-Smart said that since the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) issued a joint memorandum circular in August, the telco has secured close to 1,500 permits to build more cell sites.

"Our accelerated network expansion efforts will help us reach even the unserved and underserved areas in the country," said Alfredo Panlilio, PLDT chief revenue officer and Smart Communications President and CEO.

The permits cover towers to be built in Metro Manila and in typhoon-impacted provinces like Albay, Aurora, Batangas, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Isabela, Laguna, Masbate, Quezon, Rizal, and Sorsogon, which were in the path of recent strong typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.

The permits also include the Luzon provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Zambales; Visayas provinces of Aklan, Antique, Bohol, Cebu, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar and Southern Leyte; and Mindanao provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Cotabato (North Cotabato), Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Lanao Del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Misamis Oriental, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga del Norte.

PLDT-Smart said it tapped six tower companies to build the initial batch of 180 to 200 common towers under the government’s common tower policy.

The accelerated tower rollout is part of PLDT-Smart's continuous expansion of the telco’s fixed and wireless networks.

To date, the company’s fiber infrastructure now spans 395,000 kilometers nationwide.

This also supports Smart's mobile networks, which covers 96% of the Philippine population.

PLDT-Smart also has ongoing plans for adding 500,000 fiber ports.

The telco’s investments in capital expenditures have totaled P432 billion from 2011 to September 2020.

PLDT-Smart is anticipating a capex of at least P70 billion for 2020. — DVM, GMA News