Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) secretary Rodolfo Salalima said the government is considering the idea of building infrastructure in rural areas to incentivize telco companies to operate there. Salalima said telco companies find it difficult to invest in rural areas due to concerns of business viability. But by providing the needed infrastructure, the government hopes to attract telcos to offer their services in the said areas.
“Because you cannot expect commercial public service providers to be in all parts of the country. That is understandable,” Salalima said.
Last month, Globe Telecom Inc. made a call for infrastructure investment in rural areas to provide people in far-flung places access to broadband connectivity. Globe president and chief executive officer Ernest Cu said submarine cables can be installed by the government and rented out to telco operators like them. Cu emphasized the importance of broadband access in uplifting marginal areas by allowing people to get important information on education, health, and government services.
Infrastructure spending and rural development is included in Duterte’s 10-point socio-economic agenda.
