Guidelines for New Telco Player to Be Released This Week: DICT

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is set to release within this week the draft terms of reference (TOR) for the entry of the much-awaited third player in the local telecommunications industry.

This initiative was done in compliance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte for the department to implement measures that will hasten the entry of a new competitor in the industry to improve the state of Internet and mobile services in the country.

“Ilalabas na po namin ang draft ng terms of reference within this week. Next week tatawag po kami ng public forum for discussing the terms of reference. All stakeholders will be welcomed )We are set to release the draft terms of reference within this week. We will be holding a public forum next week for discussing the terms of reference. All stakeholders will be welcomed),” DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said in a radio interview Monday.

Rio said he was able to discuss the delays in the selection process for the new telco with the President during the National ICT Summit held in Davao City last week.

“We explained to him that there is an oversight committee na nagsusuri ng terms of reference. Pero siyempre sabi niya: Gawin ninyo yan. Do what is right. So may pressure na talaga sa amin para umusog (We explained to him that there is an oversight committee that is reviewing the terms of reference. He told us: Work on it. Do what is right. So there is really pressure for us to move forward),” he added.

“Importante po ang terms of reference kasi dito po namin mapipili yung talagang qualified na makipag-compete sa Globe and Smart (The terms of reference are important for us to select who is qualified to compete with Globe and Smart),” he added.

Under Administrative Order No. 11, the President has ordered the oversight committee to assist the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in the formulation of the TOR for the selection and assignment of radio frequencies for the entry of new telco player. It will also oversee compliance of the NTC and other implementing agencies with the TOR provisions. The committee is composed of the DICT secretary as chairperson; Finance secretary as vice chairperson, Office of the Executive Secretary and the National Security Adviser.

The DICT earlier said a number of issues are needed to be settled before the TOR is released to the public and the telco industry stakeholders.

Among these issues include the distribution of frequencies which were formerly awarded to Bayan Telecommunications Inc. (Bayantel); establishment of a common tower policy which may be leased to new and existing players for the installation of communication facilities; commercialization of the National Grid of the Philippines-Transco dark fiber– unused fiber optic cables that may be utilized for the transmission of communication signals; and the reduction of interconnection rates among mobile networks.

The DICT targets to name the third major telco player within the year. (PNA)