DICT on New Telco Major Player: We Will Move Forward Faster

With stakeholders giving their side on the debate of what Terms of Reference (ToR) for the selection process should be used, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is optimistic in moving forward to the next step of facilitating the entry of the new major telco player.

The DICT-proposed Highest Committed Level of Service (HCLoS) ToR was more preferred over Auction as Mode in selecting the new major player by both the potential bidders and telco stakeholders according to a survey done during a public consultation on 6 July 2018 in Quezon City.

The consultation/market study was conducted to hear the stakeholders’ feedback and to finally settle the prolonged discussion among the members of the Oversight Committee, created thru Administrative Order No. 11 S. 2018 (Creation of an Oversight Committee for the Entry of a New Major Player in the Public Telecommunications Market) of what of the two draft ToRs will be utilized during the selection procedure.

The HCLoS formula, which takes into account National Population Coverage, Minimum Average Broadband Speed, and Annual Capital and Operational Expenditures in giving points for the selection process, was the obvious choice for the stakeholders, including the prospective bidders.

With this key development, DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr. is keen on finalizing the HCLoS ToR to push through already with the legal procedures.

“Definitely we can’t delay anymore the entry of a third telco, as instructed by the President. So we will move forward faster, doing what we think is right for the Filipino people,” said DICT Acting Secretary Rio.

“The real moving forward is to come up with a final version that will be subjected to the legal process,” Rio added. (DICT)