New setup eyes hike in connectivity demand

THE changes in the work and learning setups due to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is seen to increase the demand for bandwidth, wireless connectivity, and devices, an information and communications technology (ICT) official said.

ICT-Davao president Sam Matunog said the shift to work-from-home arrangements of most business processing outsourcing (BPOs) companies means that there will be a demand for internet connectivity.

He added there will also be a “burst of opportunities” in online education, online-mediated logistics, and online collaboration tools and technologies.

“This is definitely a boon for Telcos (telecommunication companies),” he said.

Last month, Dennis Uy-led Dito Telecommunity Corporation (Dito), the country’s upcoming telecommunication player, started putting up sites in the city.

Department of Information and Communications Technology (Dict)-Mindanao Cluster 3 Regional Director Erlito Tancontian said the company is said to put up about 175 telecommunications towers in Davao City for its technical launch set in July this year.

While it is favorable to the telcos, Matunog said the work-from-home arrangement has added operations costs to the BPO companies.

The City Government of Davao has recently ordered BPO companies to either keep a skeletal workforce, provide them with temporary accommodation arrangements within the vicinity and shuttle service or allow their agents to work from home.

“Both options entail additional costs. The first, in terms of the costs of acquiring computer hardware, wired or wireless connectivity, productivity and client software, and cybersecurity; and the second, the costs of accommodations and shuttle services, Matunog said.

He said there were also BPO clients abroad that either closed down or downsized their operations due to Covid-19.