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SMART Communications Inc. and Pilipino Telephone Corp. (Piltel) have
defied an order of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)
directing the companies to stop offering certain promos, rival Globe
Telecom Inc. said.
In a submission to the NTC, Raul
Macatangay, head of Globe’s consumer insights and profitability
division, said Piltel’s “Gaan Text Plus P10” promo was still
offered from February 2 to 5 despite the regulator’s order to
discontinue the promo effective February 2, 2008.
“Smart and Piltel until now are still
offering these promos: ‘All Text Plus 20,’’Gaan Text 10,’
‘Smart Flat’ rate (P10 for every three-minute call and P15 for
every five minute-call to Smart and Talk ‘N Text), P10 for eight
hours unlimited text messaging and ‘Smart Unli’ (unlimited
text messaging all day),” Macatangay said.
He said that these promos exclusively
between Smart and Piltel continue even after their permits expired
and the regulator ruled they discriminated against other operators.
Globe wants NTC to issue an order
directing Smart and Piltel to permanently cease and desist
immediately from continuing their promos.
On January 22, the NTC found sufficient,
legal, and factual basis to partially recall and, or, revoke the
portion of the promo approvals which allowed the sending of text
messages from Smart to Piltel subscribers and vice versa.
According to the 2005 policy pronouncement
of the commission, the practice of rate discrimination through
off-net implementation of promotional offerings is strictly
prohibited.
Off-net means that a promo of one carrier is
being offered to subscribers of another carrier.
The NTC said the pricing scheme of the
said promos is lower than what they charge to other carriers.
“The beneficiaries of the lower access charge
promos are limited to Smart and Piltel subscribers. The pricing
structure of the promos in question is definitely lower than the
current access charge regime for text messaging,” the NTC order
said.
The NTC said that Smart’s promo should be
implemented only among Smart subscribers until January 26, 2008.
Likewise, Piltel’s promo should be offered only to Piltel
subscribers until February 1, 2008.
-- Darwin G. Amojelar
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