Aussie-Filipino telco firm pours P3-B investment in Armm

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By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE Australian-backed TierOne Communications International, Inc. (TierOne) is pushing through with its P3 billion telecommunication carrier project in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).

Ishak Mastura, Regional Board of Investment (RBOI) chairman and managing head, said on Wednesday, July 5, the original plan of TierOne was to start with a roll-out program in Marawi City.

TierOne had to re-evaluate its business plan due to the ongoing crisis in Marawi City. The company officials said the Marawi roll-out will still be implemented but in coordination with the rehabilitation and reconstruction program of the government.

In the revised plan, the company will first roll-out a pilot program by building facilities in the Office of the Regional Government compound in Cotabato City that would serve the different Armm agencies.

TierOne will eventually cover the entire region with its P3-billion investment noting there remains a provision for expansion and infusion of additional capital as needed.

The company will provide coverage for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services with fast internet service of up to 3,000 kilobytes download speed.

The project will also be harnessing the latest technology like fiber optics and satellite relay with international gateway facility.

Mastura said they earlier approved TierOne’s project that will cover cellular service in 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE and broadband wireless internet to homes and enterprises as well as Wi-Fi for public, or common, areas.

He noted that telecommunications, particularly the internet, is a big enabler for private enterprise and provides many job opportunities.

TierOne is 70 percent owned by Filipinos and 30 percent owned by Australians. It obtained a franchise to operate as a telecommunications service provider from the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Armm a few years back.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman hailed both the RBOI and TierOne for pushing forward the project despite the frustrations and setbacks.

Hataman assured that they will work to make the project a reality since the Regional Telecommunications Commission is directly under the Office of the Regional Governor.

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