Mislatel, umeksena sa telco duopoly

Makakaasa na ang mamamayang Pilipino sa “a climate of good and efficient services” kasunod ng pagpasok ng Mislatel Consortium bilang ikatlong telecommunications player ng bansa na babasag sa duopoly, ipinahayag ng Malacañang nitong Huwebes.

Sinabi ni Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo na ang grupo ay lumalabas bilang provisional new major player kasunod ng isang “fair,” “transparent” at legal selection process ng National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

“We welcome the entry of a third telecommunications player in the country as a positive development. Our people have long waited for a reliable, efficient, and inexpensive telecommunications service. The President’s strong political will has laid the foundation for its realization,” sinabi niya sa isang pahayag.

“Genuine competition in the telecommunications industry can come about only with a new major player which will break the existing duopoly thereby creating the climate of good and efficient services for Filipinos,” dagdag niya.

Ang grupo, binubuo ng China Telecom and Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy’s Udenna at Chelsea Logistics Holdings, ang tanging qualified bidder sa kasagsagan ng NTC process nitong Miyerkules.

Ang dalawa pang bidder, ang Sear Telecom Consortium of Tier One Communications at LCS Group at maging ang Philippine Telegraph and Telephone (PT&T), ay nadiskuwalipika dahil sa kakulangan sa dokumento.

Ayon kay Panelo, nang buksan ng NTC ang bidding para sa ikatlong telco player, pumasa ang Mislatel Consortium sa preliminary selection process ng NTC. “There was a transparent, fair, public and open selection process, done in accordance with laws, as well as with pertinent rules and regulations,” aniya.

Dagdag niya, nahigitan ng Mislatel, na nagpasa ng legal at constitutional requirements, ang dalawa pang bidder.

“Impositions in favor of the government and the end users have been made such as the requirement of performance bonds to ensure sound performance by the new player,” sabi ni Panelo.