More digital PPPs needed

MANILA, Philippines — The government should undertake more public-private partnership (PPP) projects in the connectivity industry to expand usability among Filipinos, network provider Globe Telecom Inc. said.

Globe, a member of the Connectivity Plan Task Force (CPTF) under the Private Sector Advisory Council, said the government should bridge the digital gap, especially in the countryside, by tapping private firms in delivering digital projects.

Globe vice president for regulatory development and strategy Emmanuel Estrada said it is urgent to bring PPPs to the digital sector to maximize private expertise, infrastructure and resources.

Estrada said 96 percent of Filipinos are now covered by at least a 3G or 4G signal. However, he noted that only 63 percent maintain active subscriptions, with the bulk of data usage centered on social media consumption.

With this, Estrada said PPPs can be used to improve usability of digital services. By this, he means finding more value in the internet beyond entertainment, such as in banking, education and health.

“First, let’s fix connectivity. Once that is done, let’s improve usability. It is one thing to have the connection but using it effectively and learning how to benefit from it is something else,” Estrada said.

“The usability we are focusing on involves people using connectivity for educational purposes, reconnecting with long-lost relatives, accessing health consultations and managing finances,” he added.

Estrada said the CPTF on its own is trying to narrow the digital gap, as the group built more than 150 new cellular sites across the archipelago.

However, he said the government has a crucial role to play from policy to practice. For one, policymakers have to review rules and regulations to ensure that they encourage private firms to invest more on digital infrastructure.

He cited Executive Order 32 signed by President Marcos that simplified the permitting process for telco projects. Based on Globe’s experience, permitting quickened by 20 percent from 2022 to 2024, as local government units complied with the mandate of the presidential order.

The CPTF said more work needs to be done to bring connectivity to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, which are now the focus of telco expansion.

The group relies on the deployment of new technology, such as low earth orbit satellites, to reach these markets, but said it needs government help on policy and funding through PPPs.