Bam says new telco players in PH should not be limited to China

Sen Bam Aquino INQUIRER.net file photo

President Rodrigo Duterte’s invitation for other telecommunications companies (telcos) to enter the Philippine market should not be limited to China, Senator Bam Aquino said on Tuesday.

Aquino also lauded the President’s move of encouraging competition in the telco industry.

“Natutuwa tayo sa pagkilala ng Pangulo na kailangan nating pagandahin ang ating sektor ng telekomunikasyon sa pamamagitan ng kumpetisyon, subalit hindi tayo dapat malimita sa isang bansa lamang,” Aquino said in a statement.

(We are glad that the President recognizes the need to improve our telecommunications sector through competition, but we should not be limited to a single country.)

“Kung ang maliit na bansa gaya ng Singapore ay mayroong anim na players sa telco sector, dapat maging ganito rin kasigla ang kumpetisyon sa ating bansa,” he added.

(If a small nation like Singapore has at least six telco players, we should have our own stiff competition in our county.)

The senator said that telecom companies from Japan and Korea have also expressed interest to enter the country’s market.

“Kahit ang maliliit nating local cable operators ay nais magsamasama upang makipagkumpitensya sa malalaking telcos,” Aquino said.

(Even our small local cable operators wanted to join together to compete with the big telcos.)

“Gawin nating madali para sa mga kumpanyang ito na makapasok sa merkado at tanggalin na ang red tape upang mapaganda ang serbisyo ng internet at bumaba ang presyo nito para sa mga Pilipino,” he added.

(We should hasten everything for these companies to enter our market and remove all the red tape in order for us to improve our internet service and bring down the prices for the Filipinos.)

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque bared on Monday that the “telecommunications duopoly in the country is about to end,” as President invited China to operate the third telco carrier in the country, to compete with Smart Communications and Globe Telecom.

READ: Duterte offers China 3rd telco carrier slot

“During the bilateral talks between President Duterte and the Chinese Premier, President Duterte offered to the People’s Republic of China the privilege to operate the third telecom’s carrier in the country,” Roque said in a Palace briefing. /jpv

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