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Smart moves to AWS cloud to get its data platform AI-ready

Cloud & Virtualisation

Smart moves to AWS cloud to get its data platform AI-ready

Open RAN lab backed by USAID soft-launched in the Philippines

Wireless Networks

Open RAN lab backed by USAID soft-launched in the Philippines

PLDT/Smart gets ready to relaunch Smart Money app

Mobile Finance

PLDT/Smart gets ready to relaunch Smart Money app

PLDT promises “always on” fibre access with FWA LTE backup

Optical & Fixed Networks

PLDT promises “always on” fibre access with FWA LTE backup

PLDT, CICC launch public-private alliance to protect telco infrastructure

Cyber Security

PLDT, CICC launch public-private alliance to protect telco infrastructure

PLDT/Smart and First Gen shift Mindanao sites to renewable energy

Energy & Sustainability

PLDT/Smart and First Gen shift Mindanao sites to renewable energy

PLDT’s Smart banks on affordable devices to drive 5G growth

Devices & Platforms

PLDT’s Smart banks on affordable devices to drive 5G growth

Telecoms players in the Philippines say that the government’s recent moves to streamline the permit process for faster network equipment rollouts are helping, but that stakeholders need to do more to make the process smoother. Last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr issued Executive Order No. 32, which – along with its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) – streamlined the permit process for the construction, installation, repair, operation and maintenance of telecoms and Internet infrastructure in the Philippines. The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said during its fourth telco workshop last week that EO 32 and the IRR have had a positive impact on network rollouts, citing a 48% rise in approved telco-related permits between May 2022 and May 2024. Attorney Pamela B. Felizarta, head of joint strategic operations at PLDT’s wireless arm Smart Communications, acknowledged that the guidelines, rules and regulations now in place have paved the way for faster rollouts of telecom infrastructure. However, she said that telcos still face formidable permit-related challenges, including securing Mayor's and Business Permits, unreasonable fees, and difficulties in obtaining consent from homeowners' associations, among others. Ricky James Steyn, COO and interim president and CEO at tower company Miescor Infrastructure Development Corporation (MIDC), agreed that uncooperative homeowner associations often hinder site development and connectivity improvements. He also emphasized the importance of standardizing Lease and Right of Way Agreements with landowners to prevent excessive fees and construction delays. Felizarta urged industry stakeholders, including government agencies, local government units, tower companies and other telco operators, to intensify collaboration in order to address these challenges. "We continue to collaborate with local government units toward a full appreciation of EO 32, and we look forward to the enactment of local ordinances that adopt in full the IRR's provisions," she added. "Together with ARTA and our partners in the public and private sectors, we trust that we will continue to work closely together, since there is still so much work to be done." "ARTA in collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will draft a template ordinance for LGUs [local government units] to adopt in order to expedite the approval process," said ARTA Secretary Ernesto V. Perez.

Regulation

Telecom players urge Philippines govt to do more on rollout permits

PLDT and Smart hop on GSMA Open Gateway bandwagon

Enterprise Ecosystems

PLDT and Smart hop on GSMA Open Gateway bandwagon

PLDT/Smart says energization fast-track will speed up rural rollouts

Operators

PLDT/Smart says energization fast-track will speed up rural rollouts

Smart warns of rise in SMShing to hijack social media profiles

Cyber Security

Smart warns of rise in SMShing to hijack social media profiles

PLDT-Smart launches centre to build up workforce cloud skills

Cloud & Virtualisation

PLDT-Smart launches centre to build up workforce cloud skills

Smart’s new eSIM push lets Philippines prepaid users keep number

Operators

Smart’s new eSIM push lets Philippines prepaid users keep number

Smart deploys AI in base stations to lower energy usage

Energy & Sustainability

Smart deploys AI in base stations to lower energy usage

PLDT to switch 33 Metro Manila facilities to renewable energy

Energy & Sustainability

PLDT to switch 33 Metro Manila facilities to renewable energy

Smart gives 5G prepaid users unlimited data on 4G

Operators

Smart gives 5G prepaid users unlimited data on 4G

Smart moves closer to adopting transport network disaggregation

Cloud & Virtualisation

Smart moves closer to adopting transport network disaggregation

PLDT, Smart and MEDA to help cacao farmers go digital

Humanitarian Comms

PLDT, Smart and MEDA to help cacao farmers go digital

Smart puts RIC through its paces in Open RAN POC with DoCoMo

Wireless Networks

Smart puts RIC through its paces in Open RAN POC with DoCoMo

Smart taps Google for data insight

Operators

Smart taps Google for data insight

PLDT/Smart renews call for tighter HOA ties to streamline rollouts

Regulation

PLDT/Smart renews call for tighter HOA ties to streamline rollouts

PLDT/Smart expand emergency Ligtas Kits across the Philippines

Operators

PLDT/Smart expand emergency Ligtas Kits across the Philippines

PLDT selects Amdocs for cloud migration and modernisation

Cloud & Virtualisation

PLDT selects Amdocs for cloud migration and modernisation

Philippines closes SIM registration at 113m

Operators

Philippines closes SIM registration at 113m

Philippines hit over 100m SIM card registrations

Regulation

Philippines hit over 100m SIM card registrations

Philippines extends SIM registration deadline

Regulation

Philippines extends SIM registration deadline

Philippines regulator mulls SIM deadline extension

Regulation

Philippines regulator mulls SIM deadline extension

Philippines refuses SIM registration deadline extension

Regulation

Philippines refuses SIM registration deadline extension

Globe, Smart call for SIM registration deadline extension

Operators

Globe, Smart call for SIM registration deadline extension

Philippines reveal only 36.79% of SIMs registered

Regulation

Philippines reveal only 36.79% of SIMs registered

Smart HQ in Manila closed over tax dispute

Regulation

Smart HQ in Manila closed over tax dispute

Philippines register 30 million SIM cards

Regulation

Philippines register 30 million SIM cards

Philippines to investigate Dito rivals

Operators

Philippines to investigate Dito rivals

Dito accuses Globe and Smart of abusing dominance around interconnection

Operators

Dito accuses Globe and Smart of abusing dominance around interconnection

PLDT forks out $100m for subsea cable expansion

Operators

PLDT forks out $100m for subsea cable expansion

Alliance Towers cuts back deployment plans

Optical & Fixed Networks

Alliance Towers cuts back deployment plans

PLDT boosts 5G network

Operators

PLDT boosts 5G network

Philippines Smart expands 5G roaming service to 45 countries

Operators

Philippines Smart expands 5G roaming service to 45 countries

Smart taps Samsung in driving 5G-SA growth in the Philippines

Operators

Smart taps Samsung in driving 5G-SA growth in the Philippines

Smart bags USTA grant for 5G as DITO nears 5m subs target

Operators

Smart bags USTDA grant for 5G as DITO nears 5m subs target

Smart exceeds 2021 5G target in the Philippines

Operators

Smart exceeds 2021 5G target in the Philippines

Smart and KT team up for 5G innovation use in Philippines

Operators

Smart and KT team up for 5G innovation use in Philippines

Smart fires up first 5G SA network in Makati, Philippines

Operators

Smart fires up first 5G SA network in Makati, Philippines

PLDT to double network capacity in Philippines by end-2021

Optical & Fixed Networks

PLDT to double network capacity in Philippines by end-2021

Uganda Telecom explores space-based connectivity

Satellite Networks

Uganda Telecom explores space-based connectivity

Philippines operator signs MoU to boost affordable rural cellular broadband access

Satellite Networks

Philippines operator signs MoU to boost affordable rural cellular broadband access

PLDT's Smart deploys over 3,000 5G sites across the Philippines

Wireless Networks

PLDT's Smart deploys over 3,000 5G sites across the Philippines

Smart expands 5G network to over 2,600 sites across Philippines

Wireless Networks

Smart expands 5G network to over 2,600 sites across Philippines

Smart switches on 2000 5G sites across Philippines

Wireless Networks

Smart switches on 2000 5G sites across Philippines

Smart brings green technology to cell sites in the Philippines

Energy & Sustainability

Smart brings green technology to cell sites in the Philippines

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