NOW Telecom appeals license termination

MANILA, Philippines — NOW Telecom, a subsidiary of listed NOW Corp., will file a motion for reconsideration of the decision by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to deny the renewal of its license to operate a mobile telecommunications system.

“NOW Telecom vehemently disagrees with the said NTC Order and will file a motion for reconsideration based on errors of law and fact and disregard of due process,” the company said in a disclosure on Thursday.

The NTC did not extend NOW’s franchise because of the company’s failure to expand its infrastructure and pay regulatory fees.

READ: NOW has 15 days to appeal NTC decision revoking license

In a 45-page order dated Mar. 19, the NTC said NOW’s network rollout was “grossly deficient” as it was only able to install six base stations out of the 2,306 facilities committed under a 2017 plan.

NTC also said NOW has P3.57 billion in unpaid regulatory fees: P1.33-billion principal and P2.24 billion in penalties.