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AMID rising food prices, people in Metro Manila prefer a telecom
service provider that offers cheaper rates and a wide coverage
network, according to a survey.
In the poll, the Institute of Transformative
Marketing Communications (ITMC) said majority of respondents favored
Bayan Telecommunications Inc.’s wireless landline service over
that of its rivals, as the company offers lower rates than
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Globe Telecom Inc.
The survey, which was conducted from March 23 to
April 23, 2008, showed that 60 percent of the 1,200 respondents in
Metro Manila favor using a Bayan wireless landline phone.
It said Bayan’s national direct dial (NDD)
rate was P0.50 lower than PLDT, Globe and mobile phone service rates
at P6 per minute.
“This is quite critical especially [for] the
cost-conscious subscribers affected by high prices of goods,” ITMC
said in a statement.
John Rojo, Bayan vice president for corporate
brand and communications, said the company is working doubly hard to
further improve and offer innovative services to its customers.
At present, Bayan is the country’s
third-biggest telecom company with over 160,000 wireless landline
subscribers in key cities in Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.
Globe and Digital Telecommunications Philippines
Inc. (Digitel) also offer wireless landline service through Globe
Wireless Landline and Mango, respectively.
Sought for comment, Ramon Isberto, PLDT
spokesman, said the company offers better network coverage and
service.
“Our subscribers are growing faster,” he
said.
Napoleon Nazareno, PLDT president, said the
company expects to double its wireless landline subscribers this
quarter in light of increasing demand and plans to launch the
service in areas with limited or nonexistent fixed lines.
At end-March, PLDT Landline Plus (PLP)
subscribers stood at 75,000, of whom 60,000 are postpaid and 15,000
are prepaid subscribers.
“Demand for the service is strong, given [PLDT’s]
superior coverage and quality of service. Our plan is to launch PLP
in areas with limited or nonexistent PLDT fixed-lines,” Nazareno
said.
-- Darwin G. Amojelar
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