Tower Watch PH is a Digital Infrastructure Monitoring System launched by the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).
The monitoring method for tower building aims to shorten permit processing times and speed the country’s broadband infrastructure expansion.
“Through Tower Watch PH, we aim to “future-proof” our Common Tower Initiative by ensuring that our previous years’ streamlining efforts do not go to waste and continue to contribute to the country’s building of a more far-reaching and robust ICT infrastructure, regardless of changes in national leadership. When a new government takes office, some of the previous administration’s projects are shelved to make space for the current administration’s projects—something we don’t want to happen,” said DICT Secretary Gregorio “Gringo” B. Honasan II.
The Digital Infrastructure Monitoring System is intended to supplement the government’s measures addressing internet speed in the country as well as internet coverage in isolated and disadvantaged areas due to a lack of towers, fiber backhaul, and fiber network.
The DICT also wishes to attract additional investment by relaxing the government’s policy environment. This would allow the DICT to hasten the supply of nationwide broadband access services.
Tower Watch PH will include applications made by Independent Tower Companies (ITCs) and telecommunications companies (telcos) for the construction or installation of Passive Telecommunication Tower Infrastructure (PTTI) or shared towers, Fiber Optic Cables (FOCs), and In-building Solutions (IBS).
According to DICT, this would also give oversight authorities access to the entire status of pending and finished applications, allowing them to monitor LGUs or offices’ compliance and assure their cooperation with the mandated processing periods.
Source: DICT