Government urged to be stricter in granting new broadband licenses

Telecommunications firm Bayan Communications urged the government to institute stricter measures in granting new broadband network licenses to new players to strengthen

the telecommunications industry and protect consumers.

John Rojo, Bayan’s director for corporate branding, said that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) should be cautious in granting licenses particularly in the grant of broadband network licenses particularly to new entrants by taking a thorough evaluation of the applicants’ financial and technical capabilities.

Rojo said that while competition was welcomed by the current players, it was important for the NTC to be careful in giving licenses to protect the consumers.

The statement was made after Liberty Communications, a small telecommunications firm, was recently granted a license by the NTC to operate a broadband network.

Bayan, along with PLDT and Globe, are raising questions about this case saying that this will affect consumers in the long run. Liberty Communications is being pressured by its numerous creditors to pay up millions of pesos worth of loans it has incurred since the start of its operations.

Rojo pointed out that Liberty has failed to settle claims by its creditors which has led them to  ask the courts to put it under receivership.

Bayan said that they encourage competition and would want a fair level playing field in the industry.

Bayan said they would look into and appeal the grant of the license to Liberty Communications before the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in the next few days.

“This is not personal. Bayan’s appeal is for the benefit of consumers and for the further growth of the telecommunications industry. We welcome competition for as long as the regulatory environment remains fair.” Rojo told reporters.

Bayan is the third biggest telecommunications player in the Philippines. Bayan’s Wireless landline subscriber base has reached more than 150,000 subscribers in less than a year.