3rd party to do telecom sector study

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) is tapping an independent body to conduct a study on the telecommunication industry.

In a briefing, PCC commissioners said the study would take a closer look into the entire industry value chain and the impact of the P69-billion acquisition by PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom of San Miguel Corp.’s telco assets in 2016.

The competition watchdog currently could not review the controversial deal given the ruling of the Court of Appeals that the transaction was deemed approved. In December, PCC asked the Supreme Court to review the lower court’s decision, saying the latter made a mistake.

“This market study is a separate exercise, distinct from the review [of the transaction]. It would be looking at the entire telecommunications industry,” said Commissioner Johannes Benjamin Bernabe.

Officials said this would cover voice telephony, fixed broadband, delivery of internet services, mobile internet transactions and spectrum management.
In the course of the review, the commissioners said it would be difficult to avoid looking at impact on the industry of the PLDT-Globe and SMC deal.

Commissioner Stella Alabastro Quimbo said the PCA would also subcontract independent studies for rice, meat and poultry; pharmaceuticals; land transportation; air transportation; agricultural credit; digital commerce, and retail.