MANILA – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) expects the completion of Phases 2 and 3 of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) in 2025 following the completion of its Phase 1 last year.
In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview on Thursday, DICT spokesperson Assistant Secretary Renato Paraiso said procurement for both Phases 2 and 3 of the NFB has already been completed and is ready for implementation.
“Ang phase 1 ay kumpleto, phase 2 and 3 na sabay nating prinocure ay i-implement na at hopefully matapos by March or April of this year (Phase 1 is already complete, phase 2 and 3—which began procurement at the same time—will hopefully be completed by March or April this year),” Paraiso said.
Moreover, he said Phases 4 and 5 of the NFB will be funded through a USD288-million loan from the World Bank.
“And finally, Phase 6 para naman ma-tie up lahat noong connectivity natin, para naman ho makumpleto iyong regions ng Regions 1, 3, 4-B and lalung-lalo na ang BARMM [Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao] (And finally, phase 6 will tie up connectivity and provide coverage to Regions I, III, IV-B, and especially BARMM),” he said.
Once completed, he said the NFB will provide internet connectivity “from the farthest north to the last province in the south.”
In particular, he said the NFB will provide connectivity to local and national government offices, as well as households in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). (PNA)