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THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)
plans to allow small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to operate as
telecom providers in unserved and underserved areas.
The regulator said it would
revisit and review Memorandum Circular 08-07-2002 or the Rules and
Regulations Authorizing Entities other than the public
telecommunication entities (PTEs) to install and operate public
calling stations/offices and/or telecenters. The review is aimed at
putting in place new rules that would encourage the establishment of
telecommunication services in all unserved municipalities by 2010.
The NTC said the amendment of the
circular will include the possibility of allowing SMEs to operate
access networks in coordination with the PTEs in areas where there
are no networks and facilities at prices, terms and conditions that
allow fair and equitable return on investment.
As of last year, the number of
installed landline telephones stood at 7.17 million, out of an 88.54
million population, for an 8.10-percent penetration rate.
Installed telephone landlines
were lower in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao at 33,344
followed by Zamboanga Peninsula, 43,327; Cagayan Valley, 46,157;
Cordillera Administrative Region, 75,040 and Soccsksargen, 79,014.
Of the 7.17 million installed
landlines, only 3.94 million were subscribed last year from 3.6
million in 2006.
Edgardo Cabarios, director of
NTC’s common carrier and authorization department, attributed the
increase in the number of landline subscribers to the rising demand
for wireless landline (WLL) in Metro Manila and other parts of the
country.
“There is a market for this
kind of service as people want mobility at a cheaper rate. The trend
now is that people want to move because of the cell phone,” he
said.
Bayan Communications Inc., which
started the WLL in the second half of last year, posted a 60-percent
growth in landline subscribers to 379,724 from 227,057 in 2006.
Rival Philippine Long Distance
Telephone Co. (PLDT) recorded a 5- percent increase in subscribers
with 2.1 million last year from two million in 2006. Globe Telecom
Inc. and unit Innove Communications Inc. had 329,908 subscribers
last year.
At end-March this year, PLDT
Landline Plus subscribers stood at 75,000, of which 60,000 are
postpaid and 15,000, prepaid subscribers. Bayan had 160,000
subscribers.
Globe and Digital
Telecommunications Philippines Inc. also offer wireless landline
service through Mango and Globe Wireless Landline, respectively.
--Darwin G. Amojelar
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