Peza taps Indian firm for ecozone telco upgrades

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) has partnered with India-based iSON Tower Ltd. Inc. to upgrade telecommunications infrastructure across its economic zones.

In a statement on Friday, Peza said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with iSON Tower, a subsidiary of the iSON Group and an accredited telecommunications tower builder under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Under the agreement, iSON Tower will develop an initial framework for the deployment and upgrading of Peza’s telecommunications infrastructure, starting with four public ecozones in Cavite, Mactan (Cebu), Pampanga and Baguio.

“As we continue future-proofing our ecozones, this partnership will accelerate our initiatives to upgrade critical infrastructure, including telecommunications, to further position the country as a more attractive destination for strategic investments,” Peza Director General Tereso Panga said.

Peza said the deal resulted from President Marcos’ state visit to India in August 2025, during which both countries agreed to deepen cooperation in digital infrastructure development.

Panga and iSON Tower chair Vivek Gupta signed the agreement on Feb. 3.

“ISON Tower is committed to enabling resilient, scalable,and inclusive digital infrastructure that supports national growth priorities,” Gupta said.

BCDA

ISON Tower has previously worked with another investment promotion agency, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, conducting preparatory studies for passive telecommunications infrastructure in its ecozones.

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These investments in the Philippines build on iSON Group’s 2025 commitment to invest up to $300 million over the next decade to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure.

This included plans to build 300 to 400 new towers annually, which qualified for the DICT’s Common Tower Initiative.

Peza said the collaboration aligns with the National Broadband Plan, signed in January, which seeks to accelerate the country’s digital transformation by investing in, constructing and managing fiber-optic cable and 5G wireless technology.

ISON Group operates in 40 countries across Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East, employing over 15,000 people.