PLDT, Globe to link up 3 more provincial networks

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Globe Telecom Inc. are pushing for the interconnection of their landline networks in three more provinces to bring voice call rates down before the end of the year.

In a statement, Ayala-led Globe said linking the networks of both firms in more provinces would lead to better and more affordable services to millions of households across the country.

Last week, PLDT and Globe, working with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), completed the interconnection of their networks in Laguna.

“The completion of network interconnection between Globe and PLDT is definitely a huge milestone for the province because of its massive coverage and impact to more stakeholders, from individual customers to the bigger business enterprises,” said Froilan M. Castelo, head for corporate and legal services group of Globe.

Local interconnection means that residents and business establishments in a specific province or city can make calls through seven-digit local dialing without having to pay long distance charges. Without interconnection, a Globe landline subscriber would have to pay long-distance rates to call a PLDT landline subscriber within the same area, and vice-versa.

This year, the NTC, together with the respective local government units, paved the way to complete interconnection services between Globe and PLDT in Pampanga, Bulacan, Zamboanga and now Laguna, with three more areas waiting for full activation before the year ends.

Meanwhile, the networks of Globe, Bayan Telecommunications and Digitel Telecommunications Philippines have been completely interconnected in all areas of common presence and operations nationwide since April 2011.

With the completion of interconnection services between the two operators in Laguna, residents in Alaminos, Calamba, Calauan, Los Baños, Paete, Pila, San Pablo, Sta. Cruz and Sta. Rosa are expected to benefit from this initiative.

More importantly, Globe said the interconnection of networks would help make Laguna—already an industrial manufacturing hub—a more attractive investment location for both local and foreign enterprises.

“Aside from being one of the provinces in the country with the highest population, Laguna is also the preferred dwelling of big businesses and investors, making it the largest concentration of industries in the country with 18 industrial estates,” Globe said.