President Rodrigo Duterte wants the third competitor in Philippines’ telecommunications industry to start its operation on the first quarter of 2018, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Tuesday.
As of now, Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom are the only two providers in the country and it has been earlier revealed that the third upcoming telco player would be China Telecommunications Corporation, the largest fixed-line service and the third largest mobile telecommunication provider in China.
The spokesperson said Duterte gave an instruction to the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Telecommunications Commission that they must make sure that the third telecommunications player will be up by March.
“The President has instructed DICT and the National [Telecommunications] Commission to ensure that the third telecom provider will be up and about by the first quarter of 2018, the first three months of 2018,” he said.
Roque added that if the application to licensing wouldn’t receive an approval within the prescribed period of seven days, the application would automatically be deemed approved.
“That’s how serious the President is in the entry of a third telecoms player,” Roque said.
(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 12/ 19 / 17)