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THE International Data Corp. (IDC) expects Philippine
telecommunication companies to spend billions of dollars as they
expand in areas outside Metro Manila.
In a statement, IDC estimated
that telecom spending will reach $3.4 billion this year to expand
service in areas outside the National Capital Region, intensify
consumer consumption and optimize business operations and
performance.
For information technology (IT),
IDC expects spending to reach $2.5 billion this year.
“The Philippines begins to show
heightened information and communications technology [ICT] awareness
in both the consumer and commercial segments. While some portions of
the country have yet to fully adopt or implement IT infrastructures,
gradual steps are being taken,” Karen Rondon, communications
research manager of IDC Philippines said.
The National Telecommunications
Commission (NTC) recently approved the expansion plan of Philippine
Long Distance Telephone Co. and Bayan Telecommunications Inc. in
Visayas and Mindanao to provide cheaper Internet and communication
access.
PLDT will install next generation
network (NGN) infrastructure in the main cities of Misamis Oriental.
NGN is the latest technology for voice and multimedia communications
based on open architecture design made possible through Internet
protocol technology.
Bayan, on the other hand, will
construct, install, operate, and maintain a local exchange carrier (LEC)
service in the province of Leyte.
Bayan plans to offer LEC in
Borogan City and Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Abuyog, Baybay City,
Carigara, Hilongos, Isabel, Dulag, Polompon all in the province of
Leyte, Maasim City, Southern Leyte, and Catbalogan City and Basey,
Western Samar.
PLDT’s wireless units Smart
Communications Inc. and Pilipino Telephone Corp. have pending
applications before the NTC to offer nationwide data communications
service in unserved and underserved areas.
Rondon earlier said that IDC
expects the country’s telecoms market to continue growing and
duplicate its 2007 performance despite looming economic challenges.
Rondon said IDC estimates the
telecommunications market to have reached P137 billion in retail
revenues last year, or 16 percent higher than the previous year.
“This figure includes operator
revenues from providing mobile services, telecom network services
and Internet access services to end-users,” she said.
Rondon said mobile penetration in
the Philippines was over 60 percent last year, with prospects for
this year optimistic.
--Darwin G. Amojelar
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