THE Department of Information and Communications Technology is seeking budget of still undetermined amount to utilize the country’s unused communication satellite slots in space.
The satellites may serve as surveillance facilities and improve the country’s connectivity, Information Technology secretary Gregorio Honasan II said Friday.
The country has two sovereign broadband satellite slots in outer space maintained by the International Telecommunications Union which “we have not used for several administrations,” Honasan said in his remarks during the Innovative Philippines forum in Makati City.
“May dalawa tayong satellite slots na hindi natin ginagamit. Humihingi kami ng budget para ma-activate natin,” the DICT chief told reporters on the sidelines of the forum.
Asked how much is needed to activate the slots and send satellites to space, the Cabinet official said negotiations are ongoing.
“Ayaw pa naman namin sabihin na ito ang hinihingi namin,” he said.
Once the budget has been allocated, the project can be implemented within three years, Honasan noted.
The satellites can be used for surveillance as well as backup in case in-land connectivity networks fail, while enabling communities in hard-to-reach islands and inaccessible mountain areas to get connected.
Putting up government-operated communication satellites will also make internet connectivity “accessible, affordable, and faster” to “help provide quality public service to people and uplift the standards of living,” the DICT chief said. (GMA News)
