Technical audit for DITO’s commitments begins

The technical audit to determine whether or not telecommunications duopoly challenger DITO Telecommunity Corp. has met its committed level of service began on Thursday, January 7, 2021.

In a statement, DITO said it has sent a document to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) notifying the regulator of its readiness for the first annual audit of its committed level of service. 

The telco said the chosen independent auditor, R.G. Manabat & Co. - an affiliate of KPMG, an international audit firm - is set to test the connectivity and internet speeds in various areas to ensure that DITO complies with its requirement to cover 37% of the population and provide a minimum average internet speed of 27 megabits per second (Mbps).

The field test to be conducted by the independent auditor is expected to be completed within 30 days, after which another 15 days will be for the preparation of the final report.

The audit will use a percentage of the identified 1,600 sites that covers 8,800 barangays in the Philippines as base for the audit, according to DITO.

It said the independent auditor was chosen from the latest list of accredited auditing firms under Group A of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and appointed in accordance with the procedure under the rules and regulation on the selection process of the new major player (MC 09-09-2018).

“For the past months, amid the difficulties posed by the current global pandemic, DITO has made great strides in the roll-out to ensure that the results of the audit will be positive,” said Adel Tamano, DITO Telecommunity chief administrative officer.

The DITO executive noted that the result of the audit does not affect the planned commercial roll-out starting March of this year.

“As I have said before, DITO Telecommunity is poised to finally offer its services to the Filipino people in March, world class connectivity that they truly deserve, as we launch commercially,” Tamano said.

DITO, formerly Mislatel Consortium, was awarded a permit to operate as the third telecommunications player of the country in July last year.

The consortium is made up of Davao businessman Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corporation, Udenna's subsidiary Chelsea Logistics Holdings Inc., and Chinese state-owned China Telecommunications Corporation.

The company committed to cover 84% of the Philippine population and offer a minimum average speed of at least 55 megabits per second by the end of its commitment in five years.

The telco earlier said it has so far constructed 1,900 towers, which are more than enough to achieve the mandated goal of 37% of population coverage and 27 Mbps internet speed by January 2021.

DITO Telecommunity is expected to roll out commercial services in March 2021. -MDM, GMA News