DICT eyes to complete underground telco lines by 2028

By Tracy Cabrera 

DILIMAN, Quezon City — In its bid to enhance digital connection as advocated by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is targeting to complete the transfer of fiber optic telecommunications lines underground before the end of the President’s term in 2028.

In a statement, information and communication technology secretary Henry Aguda explained that the move seeks to make communication lines “more resilient” and at the same time clear obstructions above ground. 

“Right now, ginagawa na po natin ng plano, marami na po tayong mga dalubhasa from international organizations that will put the plan together including the financing package po para maibaon na,” Aguda pointed out.

“So bago matapos ang termino ng Presidente, siguro bandang Luzon medyo nabaon na tapos ie-execute na lang hanggang Mindanao iyong pagbabaon,” he added.

He further stated that the government is implementing the shift in a “very systematic” way.

“Methodical iyong ginagawa natin, tinatapos muna ni DICT iyong National Fiber Backbone, minamadali po natin iyan. Matatapos na po iyan hanggang Mindanao by end of next year,” he noted. 

“Tapos gagawin natin iyong middle mile. Iyong middle mile po, iyan iyong mga nasa poste, iyan iyong ibabaon natin. Kasi iyong National Fiber Backbone, nandoon iyan doon sa mga power pylons eh so kahit na mag-earthquake iyan, kahit na high winds etcetera, hindi iyan babagsak,” he asserted.

“Iyong immediate po na ginagawa sa Masbate and Cebu, inaayos pa lang muna kasi nasa power lines pa rin and feeling namin, ang uunahin namin na i-trench siguro magsisimula kami kung saan tapos na iyong National Fiber Backbone so susuyurin namin norte pababa.”

Aguda disclosed that it is coordinating with private telecommunications companies for this project, underscoring the importance of having more stable communications lines during calamities.