THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) warned the public against unverified independent tower companies claiming to be third party telecommunity tower providers.
The DICT said the matter was raised on August 14, as the Senate was to resume hearings on Senate Bill 2699, or the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, which aims to modernize the country’s digital infrastructure. Stakeholders warned that provisions of the bill to relax restrictions on digital infrastructure could be detrimental to national security.
“The [DICT] has received information that several unverified independent tower companies (ITCs) are requesting information and/or proposing to purchase properties as sites for cellular towers, introducing themselves as the 3rd telecommunity tower provider in the Philippines,” the DICT said.
“The DICT informs the public that said companies are in no way connected to this office nor said actions are sanctioned by the Philippine government. The general public is advised to exercise extreme caution and due diligence when handing sensitive information to unverified and unauthorized ITC entities,” it said.
Senate Bill 2699 mandates to eliminate the requirement for a legislative franchise for the use of the country’s radio frequency spectrum, a provision that stakeholders warned could weaken the regulatory oversight of the National Telecommunications Commission.
Think tank Stratbase cautioned that foreign entities might use the opportunity to attack Philippine digital infrastructure amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
It added that the country should instead focus on improving the security and robustness of its digital infrastructure and restrict foreign ownership in areas related to national security.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, a proponent of Konektadong Pinoy Bill, said modernization of “outdated laws” would help improve the country’s digital infrastructure.
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