U.S. Willing To Assist ISPs In Rural Areas

The US government aims to finance next the infrastructure upgrades needed by broadband providers in the regions after funding the 5G rollout of Now Telecom Co. Inc.

Photo Insert: The US Agency for International Development (USAID) plans to bring the loan facilities up to $100 million offered by US International Development Finance Corp. (DFC) to internet providers in the provinces.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) plans to bring the loan facilities up to $100 million offered by US International Development Finance Corp. (DFC) to internet providers in the provinces.

USAID senior economic growth specialist, John Avila, told reporters that Washington is exploring the possibility of extending loans to community providers of broadband services.

“We are in the exploratory stage for that (because) DFC is actually looking for partners. We are facilitating meetings with community networks, so hopefully, DFC will finance these community networks,” Avila said.

“In the areas where they operate, connectivity would be improved. The idea here is to get outside of the areas (served by telco giants) PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc.,” he added.

According to Avila, the DFC manages a loan program wherein it finds local partners in different sectors, including in digital connectivity, that it can fund for expansion and growth.

Through the facilities, the DFC tries to minimize the risk that small-scale enterprises face when they decide to grow their business in the hope of broadening their market. Avila said the DFC could issue a loan of as low as $5 million to as high as $100 million depending on the capital required for the expansion.

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