Smart Communications Inc. is beefing up its nationwide tower rollout, following the issuance of 34 building permits as part of the government’s efforts to help improve the quality and coverage of telecommunications services in the Philippines.
This brought to 211 the total number of building and pre-construction permits issued by the government to Smart since the Anti-Red Tape Authority issued its Joint Memorandum Circular in August.
These permits cover towers to be built in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Batangas, Rizal, Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Leyte, Samar, Southern Leyte, Camiguin, Davao Del Norte, Davao Oriental, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Oriental, North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.
“The initiative of government to make it easier for us to build more towers quicker will be a big help in terms of improving coverage,” Alfredo Panlilio, Smart president and chief executive and PLDT chief revenue officer, said.
Panlilio said that Smart built around 1,000 to 1,500 towers annually.