PLDT corrects Feb. 6 Ben Kritz column

WE would like to correct the erroneous claims in the front-page opinion piece of Mr. Ben D. Kritz published by this paper last February 6 [“Another first: PH cell phone ownership costs highest in Asean”], particularly with respect to the disposition of the 700-MHz radio frequency band among telecom operators.

In his article, Mr. Kritz says Globe and PLDT “almost immediately” filed petitions with the National Telecommunications Commission “demanding the break up of San Miguel Corp.’s … 90% share of the 700 MHz broadcast spectrum” in response to rumors that Australian telco Telstra Corp. Ltd. would pair up with San Miguel to set up a new telecoms service in the Philippines. He added that these moves were “almost entirely kept from the public.”