Korean firm eyeing to enter PH telecoms sector
ANOTHER foreign telecommunications company has expressed interest in establishing operations in the Philippines, a Palace official said Tuesday, January 9.
Communications Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar said that apart from Beijing’s China Telecom, Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (PT&T) and its South Korean telecommunications partner are mulling to enter the country’s telecommunications industry.
This, Andanar said, was mentioned by acting Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. during a Cabinet meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte at the Malacañan Palace industry. last Monday, January A month after he 8. made the offer, the
“For the 21st President instructed Cabinet meeting and the DICT and the first Cabinet meeting National Telecommunications this year, DICT Commission (Department of Information to fast-track and Communications the approval of Technology) China Telecom’s application acting Secretary as third Rio mentioned telecommunications that two pr ovi der. firms are interested Presidential so far to become the Spokesperson Harry third player in our Roque, Jr. said telecommunications Duterte was expecting industry,” he said in that China a radio interview. would begin its operation
“First, it’s the by first quarter China telecom and of 2018. the consortium that Andanar gave assurance has yet to be announced; that the and second government is committed in the list is the to pushing PT&T group and its for the entry of a partner, a Korean new player to make telecom company,” the local telecommunications he added. industry
In November last “competitive.” year, Duterte offered “The DICT is making China to become a it fast to make key player in the Philippines’telecommunications our telecommunications industry competitive,” he said.
He also said that pending the third telecommunications provider’s entry, the two major players in the country, Globe Telecom Inc. and PLDT Inc., joined the government in its objective to spur competition and improve service.
The Communications chief noted that the PLDT would pour in some P58 billion while Globe would put billion in additional investments.
“We can really see that even just the announcement itself has encourage two telco giants to invest money to improve their services. So that in itself is already victory for the Filipino people,” Andanar said. (Ruth Abbey Gita/ SunStar Philippines)