The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) sealed its partnership with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and the National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) for the utilization of spare optical fiber to boost the implementation of the National Broadband Plan (NBP).

Signaling another major development in improving the country’s connectivity, DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio, Jr., NGCP chair and CEO Anthony Almeda, and TransCo president and CEO Melvin Matibag led the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA).

In the Agreement, the DICT received an indefeasible right of use and/or access in certain spare Fiber Optic Cores (FOCs), vacant lots, tower space and related facilities of the NGCP, the current concessionaire of the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo)-owned grid. The total length of the dark fiber network is 6,154 kilometers, spanning from Luzon to Mindanao.

With this development, the NBP, the department’s blueprint in accelerating the deployment of fiber optic cables in the country, is coming to fruition as the NGCP’s transmission facilities can act as the network backbone interconnected with the to-be-constructed Luzon Bypass Infrastructure.

The two major broadband projects, once completed, will save up time, manpower, and resources for the government, approximately 2.6 billion US dollars, while helping address the need for faster and more affordable internet connectivity in the country.

Media Release