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'SAMENA Daily' - News

PT&T explores using Transco’s dark fiber for broadband network

Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (PT&T) is one step closer to utilizing the dark fiber assets of state-run National Transmission Corporation (Transco) for establishing a nationwide broadband network.

In a regulatory filing submitted on Thursday by SVP Arturo Falco, PT&T said it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Transco on Wednesday for the potential use of dark fiber for its own broadband network.

“On March 21, 2018, PT&T entered into an MOU with National Transmission Corporation (Transco) for the potential use of dark fiber in the country’s network transmission lines for the purpose of building a nationwide broadband network,” the filing read.

Dark fiber is unused fiber-optic cables which could be leased to individuals or companies to establish optical connections among locations, according to Webopedia.

According to digital transformation platform Interoute, the term signifies that the fiber networks are unused as there is no data being transported by passing light through the cables.

“These cables remain unutilized and can be used by PT&T for the purpose of building a nationwide broadband network,” the company noted.

“With the MOU, Transco will have the opportunity to confirm and validate the result of the technical feasibility study previously conducted by PT&T on the viability of this plan,” it said.

In December, PT&T tapped China’s Chengdu Zhongxing Tiantong Technology Corp. to look into the feasibility of providing free wireless broadband services in public areas across the country.

“Once the study is confirmed and validated, Transco and PT&T may proceed to negotiate and discuss the execution of a definitive agreement,” the telco noted.

PT&T has said it intends to expand its fixed broadband business nationwide in three years, by taking in two Chinese companies—ZhongXing TianTong Technology Corp. and Guo Chang Assets Management Corp.

The company intends to become the country’s third major player in the telecommunications industry and compete with incumbents PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc.

In December, its chairman Salvador Zamora said it was looking at the possibility of partnering with China Telecom Corporation Limited for the venture.

China Telecom was chosen by the Chinese government to enter the Philippine telecommunications industry, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in December.



Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/647490/pt-amp-t-explores-using-transco-s-dark-fiber-for-broadband-network/story/

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