No-lease rule in ICT infra space to boost PH connectivity – group

FILE PHOTO: Legislators are urged to include a no-lease policy in a pending proposed law that requires real estate developers to reserve space for information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure in all newly developed and existing projects. According to Stratbase Institute, this action would boost ICT infrastructure and connectivity in the Philippines. INQUIRER.net stock images

MANILA, Philippines — Legislators were urged to include a no-lease policy in a pending proposed law that requires real estate developers to reserve space for information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure in all newly developed and existing projects.

Stratbase Institute stressed that adopting such a rule in legislation is important since “digital connectivity is now an indispensable utility that should be accessible to all and integral to the design of every residential and commercial development project.”

“Digital connectivity services should be supported as a critical infrastructure and have the same stature as water and electricity utilities wherein adequate access for the installation of facilities and equipment is provided space in public and private buildings with no lease,” said think-tank president Victor Andres Manhit in a statement Sunday.

“All homes, business enterprises, government offices, and public spaces should have access to fiber-optic connections for fast and stable internet connectivity and mobile phone signals,” he added.

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Stratbase Institute said it supports the recent passage of the Housing Development Digital Connectivity Act or House Bill (HB) 9870 in the House of Representatives. HB 9870 aims to amend Presidential Decree No. 957, “requiring developers of a subdivision to provide open space for parks, playgrounds, and recreational use also to accommodate the installation of digital infrastructure for the benefit of its residents.”

However, Manhit said mandating payment to the local government, homeowners’ association, the lot owner and/or developer for the use of such open space for ICT installations must have reasonable guidelines that would balance property owners’ rights and not make it too costly for providers to set up last-mile networks.

He then underscored how digital connectivity directly boosts the economy as it makes people become more productive through utilization of required digital services.

Manhit also emphasized that the government must prioritize policy reforms to address connectivity infrastructure challenge and encourage digital connectivity providers to embark on home development projects that would offer residents a number of service options.

READ: In terms of internet stability, PH ranks only 7th in Southeast Asia

Based on the Pulse Internet Resilience Index (IRI) in August 2023, the Philippines is behind its neighbors in Southeast Asia in terms of internet connection stability and ranked only 7th in the list with a score of 46 percent.

The IRI report produced by Internet Society, a global internet advocacy group, assessed 170 countries for internet infrastructure availability, networks’ ability to provide services, service providers’ ability to offer stable connections, and price of internet deals.