Malaysia-based integrated telecommunications infrastructure services company Edotco Group Sdn. Bhd. is set to construct common towers in the Philippines to provide reliable and enhanced connectivity.
Suresh Sidhu, chief executive of Edotco Group, said the increasing mobile use among Filipinos and the entry of 5G were the key reasons for investing in shared infrastructure.
He said that an increase in the number of phones using 5G would translate into smaller radius coverage for the towers as they would need to accommodate the higher frequencies needed to provide better-quality internet services.
“With tower sharing, operators can expand coverage for less. It is more cost-efficient as two operators or more are able to utilize one tower. This also benefits the environment as we are able to reduce the overall carbon footprint produced when building a tower,” Sidhu said.
Tower sharing has proven to promote effective coordination and provide communities with greater access to reliable and enhanced connectivity, he said.
Government data showed that at least 50,000 towers were needed to provide adequate service to 108 million Filipinos across the country.