DICT to bid out P3 billion contract to supply free SIMs to students

MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is spending more than P3 billion to procure over one million SIMs to be distributed to public school students.

The DICT is bidding out a P3-billion contract to supply the SIM cards and monthly data for one million beneficiaries of the Bayanihan SIM Project, a spinoff of the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP).

Based on the invitation to bid, the SIMs will be given to students from 360 public schools across the archipelago, mostly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

The winning provider for the project has to activate the data services in 45 days from the receipt of notice to proceed if in an underserved area. If the location is previously unserved and requires infrastructure buildup, 240 days will be given for service activation.

The project will provide the beneficiaries a data bundle of 25 GB per month. The service must also last for 12 months upon registration and activation of the SIM card.

Moreover, the provider is tasked to deliver mobile services as advanced as 4G, LTE or 5G in the sites, ensuring high-grade connectivity for the beneficiaries.

The provider is directed to integrate fiber, microwave and satellite solutions to keep data services up all the time, even on periods of peak demand.

Apart from infrastructure responsibilities, the winning bidder for the project has to work with the DICT in distributing the SIM cards to facilitate on-site registration and activation.

For the bidding, the DICT is narrowing the field to telcos franchised and licensed by the National Telecommunications Commission, and bidders must own 4G and 5G spectrum. They must also show their certificate of public convenience and necessity to vie for the project.

The Bayanihan SIM Project seeks to bridge the digital gap in the countryside by giving out free SIMs primarily to students and requiring providers to build cellular towers. The project also lists beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program as secondary grantees.

The DICT will source the funding for the project from its special account for FPIAP, which has a P7.5-billion budget this year.

The DICT will hold a pre-bid conference on Sept. 22 and open the offers on Oct. 6.