Dito Telecommunity Corporation, the third telecommunication player in the country, is expecting to finish the construction of 1,300 cell towers by October 2020. National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced earlier in July that it had approved the appeal of the telecommunications firm to extend its technical audit, which the latter said did not affect its technical runs. The NTC has moved Dito’s technical audit to January 7 next year instead of its July 8 schedule. In Dito’s certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) it stated that during its first year of operations, it must meet a target coverage of 37% of the country’s population and a speed of 27 megabits per second (Mbps). Dito’s Chief Technology Officer Rodolfo D. Santiago said that of the 1,300 required cell sites, around 300 have already been completed and can run as a network. In contrast, 500 have towers erected but are yet to have support facilities installed. These sites are self-built and located on private properties. Moreover, Santiago said they aim to complete the construction of the target sites by October. Dito has already conducted some technical tests, albeit internally, since March. These tests could have been done in public if not for the lockdown, the company noted. Here’s a list of provinces and cities with existing DITO towers as of August 31.

1. Cagayan de Oro City
2. Quezon City
3. Legazpi City
4. Davao del Sur
5. Tagum City
6. General Santos City
7. Mati City
8. Davao Oriental
9. Tacurong
10. Koronadal City
11. Polomolok, South Cotabato
12. Cotabato City
13. Bustos, Bulacan
14. Cebu City
15. Bogo City
16. San Marcelino, Zambales
17. Bacolod City
18. Iloilo City
19. Iligan City
20. Manila
21. Caloocan
22. Davao City
23. Zamboanga City
24. Taguig City
25. Pasig
26. Paranaque
27. Mindoro
28. Alaminos
29. Angeles City
30. Bacoor City
31. Batangas City
32. Butuan City
33. Cabuyao City
34. Cavite City
35. Dipolog City
36. Dumaguete City
37. Gapan City
38. Iriga City
39. Lapu-Lapu City
40. Makati
41. Malabon
42. Marikina
43. Ormoc City
44. Ozamiz City
45. Pasay City

On September 7, the House of Representatives has approved the 25-year franchise bid of DITO with 240 affirmative votes and only seven negative votes. “The franchise shall be extended and in effect for a period of 25 years from its expiration on April 24, 2023, unless sooner revoked or cancelled. This franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked in the event the grantees fail to operate continuously for two years,” the bill reads. Dito, owned by Davao-based businessman Dennis A. Uy, has allotted P150 billion for capital expenditure to start operations as the country’s third telecommunications player.