PAGASA has announced the start of the Amihan season in the country. Cooler weather is forecast throughout the country, particularly in Baguio City. **Photo by neimless_skills
BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — More towns in the Cordillera expect faster internet connectivity with the expansion of the Regional Wireless Network Program of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
The program aims to interconnect communities in the region and ensure sustainable internet connectivity with the use of wireless networks. Though the mountainous terrain of the Cordillera remains a challenge, the DICT is leveraging the mountain ranges in laying out the wireless backbone network.
“Gagamitin po natin ‘yung bulubundukin ng CAR para ikalat po ang bandwidth at ma-reach po ang mga munisipyo at mga barangay, hangga’t maaari po, ma-provide-an ng connectivity,” DICT-CAR Regional Director Reynaldo Sy said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Nov. 19, 2024.
[We will utilize the mountain ranges of CAR to distribute the bandwith to reach the municipalities and barangays. As much as possible, they will all provided connectivity.]
He reported that the Regional Wireless Network Team has successfully established three major backbone wireless links and four middle-mile radio links connecting parts of Benguet and Ifugao.
The team was able to link Sto. Tomas Relay Station to Mt. Pulag Station, Sto. Tomas Relay Station to Kapangan Municipal Hall, Mt. Pulag Relay Station to Atok Municipal Hall, all in Benguet, and Mt. Pulag Relay Station to Tinoc Relay Station in Ifugao.
The DICT-CAR will expand the wireless network through the Sto. Tomas Relay Station to Saddle Elementary School (ES) in Sagpat, Kibungan, Benguet to Kibungan Municipal Hall; Sto. Tomas Relay Station to Camilio Lucaben ES in Madaymen,Kibungan; Camilo Lucaben ES Point to Multipoint Links namely Kibungan National High School, Bakun Municipal Hall, Mankayan Municipal Hall, Buguias Municipal Hall, and Sto. Tomas Relay Station to Benguet State University-Bokod.
Future expansions include Camilio Lucaben Elem. School to parts of Mountain Province, Mt. Pulag to Mt. Amuyao to parts of Mountain Province, and Mt. Pulag to Mt. Angge to Ifugao Province.
Sy said phases 2 and 3 of the national fiber backbone under the NBP are expected to be finished before the year ends. This will bring 10-gigabyte bandwidth to Baguio City. The fiber optic internet cable has already reached the city and is under testing.
“Yung 10GB bandwidth na darating dito sa Baguio, sobra para gamitin ng GovNet Naka connect ang fiber sa Sto. Tomas papunta na rin po sa Mt. Pulag para po ma-distribute unti-unti sa mga LGUs po. Ayaw po natin na may masayang na bandwidth,” Sy said.
[The 10GB bandwidth expected in Baguio is more than enough for the GovNet. The fiber is connected to Sto Tomas which also connects to Mt. Pulag so that it will be distributed gradually to the LGUs. We do not want to waste any bandwidth.]
He added that with the expected completion of Phase 3, the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao will be connected to the Regional Wireless Network by 2026 through Regions 1 and 2.
The Regional Wireless Network Project was endorsed by the Cordillera Regional Development Council and approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as a priority project for 2025.
It was approved for implementation from 2025 to 2029. The NBP aims to lay the backbone of a connectivity network across the country through the deployment of fiber optic cables and wireless technologies, thereby improving the internet speed and affordability. **JDP/DEG-PIA CAR
