The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has pointed out that building cell sites inside military camps is not a new thing amid criticisms on the plan to establish Dito Telco cell sites in its camps.
Since 2006, the military has made agreements with giant telecommunication companies in the Philippines. Globe has 62 cell sites in military camps while Smart has 31 towers.
However, AFP Chief of Staff General Gilbert Gapay ordered to update the guidelines and implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the said agreements between the military and telcos.
According to AFP Spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo, it is time the guidelines adapt to the situation for the co-located cell sites inside the camps.
“Ang nag-trigger nga dati ay ang pagbabago sa technology at sa ating communication environment. Pati yung ating communications infrastracture natin, nagkaroon na rin ng pagbabago. (The change in technology and our communication environment triggered it. Even our communications infrastructure has changed).”
Meanwhile, the AFP has ensured that there are safeguards in place to prevent espionage in the construction of cell sites. Dito Telecommunity is the third telco in the country, a consortium developed by Udenna Corporation and Chelsea Logistics Corporation which are both owned by business tycoon Dennis Uy and the Chinese state-owned telco, China Telecommunications Corporation.
AFP Spokesperson Arevalo disclosed that part of their agreement with Dito Telco is having a 3rd party cyber security expert that will help ensure that their security will not be compromised due to the cell sites. The AFP has also full access to the servers of the Dito facilities inside the military camps.
The third telco assured that it will not spy on the military and will not allow any affiliated parties to use the possible information obtained by Dito.
The military is also prepared to face the senate inquiry regarding its Memorandum of Agreement with Dito. – Report from Bea Bernardo
