Govt assures public of better telco services this year

The NTC assures of better telco services this 2021 with the entry of the third player, and existing carriers' vow to increase their investment.

Seal of the National Telecommunications Commission

Govt says consumers can expect improved telco services

During a Malacanang press briefing in December, National Telecommunications Commission  (NTC) commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said DITO Telecommunity's planned entry in the local market has forced Globe Telecom and PLDT to further improve their networks. 

So if you’ll notice Smart and Globe spent a lot for the past several years because they know this competitor will come in based on the initiative of our President in what we call third telco initiative, Cordoba said. 

DITO, supported by Davao's Dennis Uy and China Telecommunications, is slated to offer its services starting March of this year. 

The third telco player said it already deployed over 1,900 towers as of early December, higher than what is needed to meet its committed level of services for its first year of operations. 

But Globe and PLDT are not letting go of their dominance without a fight, announcing higher investment for the expansion of their networks. 

Globe President and Chief Executive Officer Ernest earlier said the Ayala-led group was targeting to increase its investment to up to PHP 70 billion for 2021 as the coronavirus lockdown eases. 

PLDT, meanwhile, is eyeing to spend as much as PHP 92 billion this year. 

Alfredo Panlilio, PLDT chief revenue officer and Smart Communications president and CEO previously noted majority of the capital expenditures would be earmarked to finance the expansion of PLDT's fiber footprint and wireless coverage. 

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Source: PNA