Third TelCo Player, ‘Best Solution’?
Third TelCo Player – Due to the Internet problems that have been criticized by many Filipinos, an industry expert suggested that a third telco player is the ‘best solution’ to these woes.
Grace Mirandilla-Santos, an independent telecoms policy researcher said during an interview with ANC’s Cathy Yang, she said that it’s best to have a competition.
According to Santos, the acquisition of the 700 megahertz by the only two telecommunication giants in the Philippines, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Globe Telecom, would not become the solution why these telcos “failed to deliver better service”.
She added that because of this situation in the Philippines since these two telcos are the one’s controlling the infrastructure, access to the Internet, and the pricing, there is no assurance that giving the 700 MHz frequency to them will change the current situation to a better one.
In the report by ABS-CBN, the Philippine Competition Commission, the government’s competition watchdog, was blocked by the two telcos by filing petitions to have a temporary restraining order for a review on the asset sale of the telcos to be done by the government agency.
Last May 2016, PLDT and Globe Telecom bought San Miguel’s telco assets with P70 billion which was then divided equally to both parties.
This prevents the possibility of a new player just like the rumors about the entering of the Telco, Telstra in the Philippine scene.
Santos pointed out that the said review is important as to set future rulings and standards to future deals on other industries.
The Internet service in the country is among the slowest and most expensive in Asia that most of the consumers have been complaining. People have been asking for another competitor for the only two telcos would make their service and pricing better.
Will there be another telco competitor in the Philippines? Will it really solve the Internet problems happening in the country right now?
Share us your thoughts in the comments below.