DITO Telecommunity Corp., the joint venture of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy and China Telecoms, passed the technical audit by an independent party as it prepares for commercial rollout next month.
Independent auditor R.G. Manabat & Co. reported to the National Telecommunications Commission that DITO’s first year of national population coverage reached 37.48 percent or 37,845,315 based on the 2015 national census population of 100,983,124. It covered 8,860 barangays.
The procedure used in determining national population coverage involved simulation using the propagation model ATOLL software. The areas covered by the -105dBm were determined by the software.
DITO Telecom, which received a certificate of public convenience and necessity in July 2019, was expected to deliver its commitments of 37.03 percent national population coverage with a minimum average broadband speed of 27 megabits per second in its first year of operation.
The technical audit also showed that DITO registered a minimum broadband speed of 85.9 megabits per second for 4G service and 507.5 mbps for 5G service.
It said broadband speed reached 102.4 mbps for 4G and 769.1 Mbps for 5G near base stations. At the middle point, DIT registered broadband speed of 91.2 mbps for 4G and 437.1 mbps for 5G.
Tests also showed that far from the base station, DITO’s broadband speeded registered 64.4Mbps for 4G and 316.5Mbps for 5G. The auditor said stratified random sampling was used to choose 12 percent of the 1,602 cell sites for field testing.
“This report relates only to DITO’s Year 1 commitments on national population coverage and minimum average broadband speed as set forth in the engagement letter, as amended, and do not extend to any financial statements of DITO Telecommunity Corp., taken as a whole,” the report said.
DITO is scheduled to launch commercial operation by March 8, 2021.
“DITO’s entry in the market is a welcome development in the telco industry. A healthier competition within the industry fulfills President Duterte’s promise to the Filipino people of better telco service thru cheaper prices and improved internet speed,” NTC said.
DITO reported that its first domestic and international phone and video calls were made in March 2020, two months ahead of schedule and despite the global pandemic.
It said 1,300 base stations were being constructed, with more than 300 already on air, on top of other towers being constructed by independent tower companies.
DITO Telecom earlier rejected claims of potential national security risks from its plan to build cell sites inside military camps.
DITO’s statement came after Senator Risa Hontiveros raised concerns over the security risks that may arise from China Telecom’s stake in DITO.
DITO, in a statement, assured the public that its devices, equipment and structures would not be used to obtain classified information from the Armed Forces.
