(Eagle News) – The National Telecommunications Commission’s “failure to maintain an effective competition among private entities in the use of communication and radio facilities” needs to be addressed prior to the entry of the third telco company.
Tarlac 2nd District Rep. Victor A. Yap said this was to ensure that the third player will not be “eaten by the existing telco giants.”
“The entry of a new player will not only provide competition to the existing telcos but will compel them to lower their costs and improve their services..We must ensure that the new entrant will have a fair platform from which it can launch its business,” Yap, who is also the chair of the House committee on information and communications technology, said.
According to Yap, who filed House Resolution No. 1338 last September 26, 2017 calling for an investigation into the NTC’s spectrum management and administration, at present, 100 percent of the GSM/2G frequency was owned by Smart and Globe.
Only 15 megahertz was unallocated in the 3G frequency, while only 80 megahertz was available in 4G.
He said this left the third telco player with only 100 megahertz to start its operation.
“The recent call of the President involving the entry of third telco player underscores the importance of pursuing the investigation….This would entail the assignment of the remaining available radio frequency spectrum and possibly the reassignment of those that are unutilized,” Yap said.
Yap’s committee has proposed the enactment of a spectrum reform law that will equitably distribute the limited radio frequency spectrum allotted to the country.
The NTC is expected to come up with a circular in February that would show the terms of reference for the selection and the assignment of radio frequencies for the new major player.
