The Philippines’ newest operator DITO Telecommunity has been awarded a 25-year operating franchise after the Senate committee on public services approved the move.
Last month, DITO cleared a technical audit by the country’s regulator the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission), clearing the way for the operator to launch commercial services this month.
DITO already holds a franchise which expires in April 2023, but this was granted under its previous name Mislatel (Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company). The Senate approved its latest application after DITO achieved its year one deployment obligation of providing minimum 27Mbps mobile internet to at least 37% of the population.
TeleGeography notes that the operator met its 8th March launch targetth March launch target, delivering 4G and 5G services through 1602 cell sites across the Philippines.