Three of the Philippines’ biggest mobile networks have signed a first-of-its-kind deal to share their physical infrastructure. PLDT, Smart, and DITO announced that they will give each other access to cell towers, indoor signal systems, and undersea internet cables without charging rental fees.
For DITO, this marks the first time it has entered a sharing arrangement with a direct competitor. The company spent its early years building its own facilities from the ground up, but this new pact signals a shift in strategy.
The main driver behind the agreement is money. Building telecom networks is getting more expensive, especially with the push for 5G and the growing demand for AI-powered services. At the same time, competition is tough and customer spending is low. By sharing what they already have, the three players can save on construction costs and use their budgets more wisely.
Under the deal, nobody pays anybody for using the other’s towers or cables. Instead, they simply swap access. This removes the usual fees for leasing space or renting capacity, making it cheaper for all sides to widen their coverage.
PLDT’s chief said the move shows that even competitors can work together on shared goals, like connecting more Filipinos and closing the digital gap. DITO’s top executive added that the agreement proves his company has earned its place as a trusted player in the industry.
This is not DITO’s first sharing deal. It previously agreed to share fiber lines with Converge ICT. But this new arrangement goes further by covering mobile network assets as well.
Across Asia, more telecom companies are turning to similar partnerships. The trend helps them reduce wasteful spending on duplicate systems and free up money for future technologies. For the Philippines, this could mean faster network rollouts and better service for everyday users without driving up costs for the companies involved.