Smart, Globe implement 1-year expiry period for prepaid load

SMART COMMUNICATIONS, Inc. and Globe Telecom, Inc. have extended the validity of prepaid cellular credits or “load” below P300 to one year.

In separate statements issued on Thursday, Smart and Globe said they have fully complied with Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 05-12-2017, issued jointly by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), providing for a one-year validity period of all types of cellular load.

“Starting today, July 5, 2018, all Smart, TNT and Sun prepaid loads now have a validity period of one year. This includes all load denominations of Smart Prepaid, Smart Bro, TNT, Sun Prepaid, Sun Broadband Wireless Prepaid, Smart Link, Smart Marino, PLDT Prepaid Landline Plus and PLDT Home,” PLDT Inc.’s wireless unit said.

In January, the telecommunications industry began implementing a one-year validity period for prepaid loads P300 and above.

“Moving forward, prepaid loads below P300 will also have a validity period of one year,” Smart added.

Globe, likewise, said all prepaid load, including those below P300, will expire after one year.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. —