DOST considers utilizing idle fiber optic, microwave assets

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is now conducting a study on various approaches in which the government can utilize the existing fiber optic assets and microwaves facilities.

DOST secretary Mario Montejo announced yesterday that the government is looking into using underutilized state-owned fiber-optic and other assets. It is moving on to bid to the private sector the opportunity to co-develop these assets and maintain a broadband infrastructure.

 He said exploring innovative ways on how government can possibly leverage these assets in dealing with existing commercial broadband network operators to achieve its goal of a cost-efficient, high-speed, high capacity broadband.

“The DOST study is considering the use of existing government fiber optic assets and microwave facilities that are currently underutilized to serve as backbone for a possible government broadband infrastructure. These are found in existing TRANSCO transmission lines, MRT and LRT transmission lines, and TELOF facilities laid all over the country,” said Montejo in a statement released yesterday.

He said to ignore these underutilized assets is not “sound economics.” “While other countries are presently toiling to lay their fiber optic network for broadband use, we have an extensive fiber optic network already in place that has tremendous capacity potential but which remains untapped and under-utilized,” the secretary said.

The DOST is likewise looking at the private sector to support and maintain the broadband infrastructure.

”Definitely, the private sector would normally always run these things better. That is why we see them playing a key role in this possible undertaking. We have made prior consultations with all the major TELCO players and heard no objections so far. They are even excited about the prospects of a government network increasing the overall broadband-use in the country with the addition of potential capacity coming from the untapped fiber-optic assets of government.” Montejo clarified.

Montejo said the DOST is also considering innovative options like the Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU), considered a best practice worldwide, for government to secure its high-capacity, high-speed, secure broadband requirement.

Indefeasible right of use (IRU) is a contractual agreement between the operators of a communications cable or a fiber optic network, and a client.

The Government can either be a preferred client of a TELCO owning a fiber optic network or a wielder of an IRU by virtue of its assets. The IRU allows a long-term lease—usually about 25 years— of a fiber optic cable.

Meanwhile, Montejo stressed that the conceptual government broadband network would enhance efficiency in government operations and improve its delivery of vital social services to the people and will not turn out to be another ZTE.

Montejo clarified that the government network under study is only a part of an over-all digital strategy for the country now being developed by the Department of Science and Technology through its Information and Communications Technology Office.

“We are guided by the Philippine Digital Strategy that was crafted through extensive consultations with the different ICT stakeholders. Once the strategy is in place, the DOST will pursue four priority programs in the areas of: E-Governance, Internet-for-all, ensuring further growth of the ICT-BPO industry and cyber-security,” he defended.

“Broadband will forever change the way we receive services from government, how we teach our school children, how government will provide health care and save people from natural disasters. We hope to see the day when Filipino job-seekers applying for work here and abroad need not endure agonizing queues just to obtain all the clearances they need because all the requirements like NBI and other documents can be secured online.” added Montejo.

“We also recognize the need to provide adequate bandwidth throughout the country to ensure ICT access in underserved and un-served areas, especially in schools. We propose bandwidth speeds of 4 Mbps for schools so that schoolchildren will fully enjoy the benefits of interactive learning. Currently, the access of Philippine schools to the Internet has a speed of 64-512 kb; in Thailand, by comparison, public schools get an average of 10 Mbps, “Montejo explained.

The DOST Secretary said the “goals of improving e-governance and providing Internet accessibility for all are achievable through an efficient, high-capacity, high- speed, and secure information highway that should be available and affordable to everyone.” (FREEMAN)