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MANILA - Third telco DITO is "on track" to meet its commitments despite the 6-week lockdown of millions in Luzon to curb the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Information and Communications Technology said Thursday.

The joint venture between tycoon Dennis Uy's Udenna Corp and China Telecom did not ask to move the July deadline to install up to 37-percent coverage with 27 mbps data speed, said DICT Undersecretary Eliseo Rio.

"Ibig sabihin n'yan, on track sila even with this emergency situation that we're having now," he told DZMM.

(That means they're on track even with this emergency situation that we're having now.)

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DITO can continue building towers during the lockdown because telecos are considered essential service providers, he said.

The consortium should start commercial operations by March 2021, based on its license to operate.

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