The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and its partners in the private sector are seeking to further streamline the construction of new telecommunications (telco) towers by improving the process of energizing such structures. ARTA, through its Better Regulations Office, and PLDT-Smart on Tuesday co-hosted the '2nd Workshop for Process Mapping the Energization of Telecom Towers.' In a statement, PLDT-Smart said the workshop, part of ARTA's "Bayanihan" initiatives, seeks to address bottlenecks in the permitting, licensing, and authorizing process involved in the energization of telecommunications towers in the Philippines, and to improve connectivity in remote areas. 'The 2nd Telco Workshop aims to address the said issues and to forge a collaboration stream for National Government Agencies, Mobile Network Operators, and Independent Tower Companies to provide faster Internet connection for the whole country,' it said. In addition to improving collaboration between the public and private sectors, the workshop will also showcase presentations from concerned government agencies and private partners on their recommended practices for fast-tracking the energization of telecom towers. Government agencies that will participate in the workshop include the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the National Electrification Administration, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Philippine Association of Building Officials, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology. The first workshop on the energization of telco towers was co-hosted by Globe Telecom on May 19, 2023. Several concerns were highlighted during the event, among them the non-standardized processes, delays and confusion, inconsistent fees and requirements, and the lack of coordination and communication involved in energizing telco towers.
Source: Philippines News Agency
