The promised internet speed, including its rollout date, could be compromised once Dito and state-owned China Telecom fail to come up with possible backup plans to scrap the US-Hong Kong submarine cable project, according to Prof. Glen Imbang, of the University of the Philippines. The UP professor at the Technological Management Center made the statement in reaction to the Google and Facebook dismissal reports. Inc. in their undersea cable plan between the United States and Hong Kong after the Trump administration said Beijing could use the connection to obtain information from Americans. The withdrawal of the plan by the two social media sites for the submarine cable link is also the result of escalating tensions between the US and China over a series of disputes, one of which is America's accusation that Chinese high-tech products can be used in espionage. According to Prof. On the other hand, after the withdrawal of the US-Hong Kong submarine cable plan, the third telco had two practical but costly options to carry out the promised internet speed when it was awarded the franchise to break the telecom business duopoly in the country. "Build its own undersea cable or go into rocket science or satellite for the data transmission," said Prof. On the other hand, explaining that using satellite feeds for its internet connectivity is extremely costly. UP professor said that if Dito chooses to build its own submarine cable, its rollout timeline will be at risk because it will take a minimum of five years to build an international undersea cable link. Dito, a 60-40 partnership of the state-owned China Telecom and Udenna consortium, has earlier promised to provide internet access to one-third of the country's more than 100 million population at a minimum speed of 27 megabits (Mbps) set would have rolled out last July 8, 2020. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the rollout of the third telco continues to be delayed. Meanwhile, residents of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Officers Village, Inc. strongly objected. In Taguig City, Dito reportedly plans to build about 20 5G cell towers in their community. One of the reasons cited in an online petition by most is retired and active military men is the icybersecurity issue “since our village is a community of former military officers and our place is also very close to the headquarters of the Army, Navy and Air Force and about 40 residents in our place are holding key government positions.
