DITO Telecommunity tapped KPMG affiliate R.G. Manabat & Co. as the independent auditor to conduct a month-long technical audit of its services.
This includes actual field tests of DITO’s 4G LTE signal coverage and mobile internet speed. It commenced on January 7, 2021, and the results are expected to be available in the second half of February 2021.
DITO promised to reach 37% of the entire Philippine population in 4G LTE cellular service with a minimum mobile internet speed of 27 Mbps in its first year of operation. The telco’s CTO claimed that 1,532 DITO cell sites have been completed so far.
If passed, the technical audit will prove the readiness of DITO Telecommunity to challenge the duopoly of PLDT/Smart and Globe. Both telcos have ramped-up their roll-out of new technologies including fiber-to-home and 5G in the face of the third telco threat.
On the other hand, DITO Telecommunity has a lot to lose if it fails the technical audit. The government might revoke its franchise, forfeit a ₱25.7 billion performance bond, and confiscate its frequency.
Nevertheless, it can still proceed with the March 2021 launch regardless of the technical audit results. The telco has a year to meet its committed level of services.
SOURCE: CNN Philippines
