Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has high hopes for Dito Telecommunity to smash the country's telecoms duopoly. (Nikkei Montage/AP)

Pandemic slows China-backed bid to end Philippine telco duopoly

Duterte ally's Dito Telecommunity faces 'uphill task' to build network on time

CLIFF VENZON, Nikkei staff writer

August 7, 2020 04:09 JST

MANILA -- When the Philippines' telecom challenger Dito Telecommunity picked March 28 to showcase its brand-new network, the date was carefully chosen to honor the man who made it all possible -- Rodrigo Duterte.

Timing it with the Philippine president's birthday would show the close ties between the leader and China Telecom-backed Dito, the company Duterte is hoping will break up the country's long-standing telecom duopoly.