Feasibility study set on NBN

MANILA, Philippines -  The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will commission a feasibility study on the planned national broadband network (NBN) the government will build on an initial budget of P72 billion.

Engineer Denis Villorente, DICT undersecretary for development and innovations, said the department is working on the terms of reference (TOR) for the feasibility study after which the contract to bid will be offered to a third party.

“We will post publicly to invite third parties once TOR is finalized,” Villorente told The STAR.

The DICT earlier announced the Duterte administration’s decision to build the national broadband network to ensure internet connectivity throughout the country, especially in currently underserved and unserved areas.

Communications Technology Secretary Rodolfo Salalima had said the project was critical to public service and also for private telecommunications firms to expand their reach toward the countryside. 

He said the P72-billion NBN would improve internet speed in the country.