Consumer Group Backs Shared Underground Fiber Conduits

MANILA, Philippines — A consumer advocacy group has backed moves to establish national rules for shared underground fiber conduits, saying the policy should ultimately be measured by whether it delivers more reliable connectivity and fewer disruptions for Filipino consumers. “A severed fiber line can stop a student’s class, prevent a worker from earning a day’s pay, and disrupt payments, orders and other transactions for businesses of every size, from neighborhood stores to major enterprises. Consumers bear the consequences regardless of which company owns the damaged cable,” said CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor Tim Abejo. The proposed framework, submitted through the Private Sector Advisory Council’s Digital Infrastructure sector, calls for a coordinated national approach to the planning, construction and governance of underground conduit systems. Among the measures being proposed are common technical standards, clearer responsibility for maintenance, closer coordination between national agencies and local governments, and rules for the long-term shared use of underground infrastructure. Froilan Castelo, president of the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators and general counsel of Globe Telecom Inc., has said a common policy would give telecommunications operators a more consistent framework for network planning and deployment while improving infrastructure resilience. Abejo said the initiative presents an opportunity to make consumer welfare a clear part of infrastructure policy. “For consumers, the test is straightforward: Will this lead to more dependable service and less disruption when infrastructure is damaged?” Abejo said. “Clear responsibility is critical. The rules should identify who maintains shared facilities, who acts when infrastructure is damaged, and how service providers keep affected subscribers properly informed during an outage.” The initiative also complements the Dig Once Policy under Republic Act 12234, or the Konektadong Pinoy Act, which provides for better coordination in the installation of telecommunications conduits alongside roadworks and other infrastructure projects. The policy is intended to reduce repeated excavation, shorten deployment time and improve coordination of civil works. Abejo said better planning can benefit both consumers and communities if implementation is accompanied by clear engineering, safety and road-restoration standards. “Coordinating infrastructure works can reduce unnecessary excavation and inconvenience, but accountability for safety and proper road restoration must be clear,” he said.