Rural towns in Davao region to get free internet access – DOST

DAVAO CITY, March 12 — Ten municipalities in the Davao Region earlier identified by the Regional Development Council XI may soon have access to free internet through the TV White Space Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology.

Among the 10 municipalities in the region that will soon have free internet access through the TVWS project are Jose Abad Santos, Saranggani, Don Marcelino, Kiblawan, and Malita in Davao Occidental; Talaingod in Davao del Norte; and Taragona, Manay, Caraga, and Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental. These are municipalities with high poverty incidence.

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The TVWS Initiative was already pilot tested in Bohol and Bulacan and will soon be tested in Cavite. It was successfully used in facilitating the registration of fisherfolk in the municipalities of Carlos P. Garcia, Ubay, Bien Unido, Trinidad, and Talibon in Bohol.

TVWS, which is a new wireless data communication standard, refers to the unutilized television frequencies in the VHF and UHF bands. It is an ideal medium for the delivery of wireless data in the Philippines especially in the countryside due to the ability of its signals to travel through thick foliage and even over water.

Secretary Mario Montejo of DOST said they are just awaiting for the terms of reference for the bidding out of the project to pave the way for its implementation. While the P1.4 billion TV White space project will be solely implemented by the government, private sector players have already expressed their interest to become partners. (PNA with Lovely A. Carillo)

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