MANILA — Emerging telco firm, Now Corp., has partnered with the National Transmission Corp. (Transco) for the use of its fiber optic network in the establishment of a nationwide broadband network.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed, wherein Now Corp. will be able to use Transco’s existing fiber optic cables, vacant lots, tower spaces and related facilities being operated by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and owned by Transco to build a fixed broadband network across the country.
“(Now Corp.) is determined to build an independent nationwide backbone to cover the entire country and we are seriously looking on the viability of collaborating with TransCo to achieve this end. We now have a government committed to exhaust all means to solve the digital divide,” Now Corp. Chairman Thomas Aquino, who signed the MOU with Transco President and CEO Melvin Matibag, said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Thursday.
Now Corp., through its affiliate Now Telecom, seeks to provide better and reliable broadband Internet services in Metro Manila.
Last February, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 10972 extending the franchise of Now Telecom for another 25 years. Under the newly-signed law, Now Telecom shall provide improved telecommunications services, such as wired, wireless, fixed, cellular, and mobile, among others.
“With a newly renewed 25-year franchise, Now Corp. will co-lead in the unfolding of the full transformation of the digital Filipino, in scale and in scope, the country has not seen before,” according to Now Corp. President and CEO Mel Velarde.
For its part, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) signed last Friday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Transco and NGCP for the use of dark fiber or spare optical fiber for the implementation of the National Broadband Program.
The total length of the dark fiber network that will be used by the DICT is 6,154 km., spanning Luzon to Mindanao, which would enable the department to deliver Internet services to remote areas that are not easily accessible by existing telco companies. (Aerol John Pateña/PNA)
