Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20) — The United States government has granted ₱118 million to NOW Telecom Company to expand 5G connectivity in the Philippines.
According to the US embassy in the Philippines, the grant, through the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), will allow NOW Telecom to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of 5G pilot network in various sites in Metro Manila “to validate network performance, test 5G use cases, and provide data to inform larger scale deployment.”
The telecommunication company has tapped New Jersey-based Bell Labs Consulting, part of Bell Labs — the research arm of Nokia — to conduct the study.
The grant agreement was signed on Friday by NOW Telecom chair and chief executive officer Mel Velarde and Nokia Bell Labs managing partner Stefan Wilhelm during the 10th US-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Manila.
“This 5G grant demonstrates the US commitment to developing quality digital infrastructure and increasing access to affordable connectivity in the Philippines,” said US State Assistant Secretary Daniel Kritenbrink, who witnessed the signing.
