DICT: Third telco may be named in October

After getting numerous delays, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) revealed that the country’s third telecommunications player may be identified as early as October this year.

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) logo

DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio made the statement after announcing that they have started the legal process in selecting the third telecommunications player.

In an interview with Communications Secretary Martin Andanar over Radyo Pilipinas, Rio said that the first public hearing will also be held soon.

“Nag-umpisa na iyong tinatawag nating legal process for the, iyong (The legal process for the) memorandum circular that will define the terms of preference in selecting iyong magiging (the) third telco natin (here). This started August 8,” he said.

“Iyong first public hearing na kailangan talaga dadaanan itong legal na prosesong ito, dahil this is like a legislative process – may public hearing at hindi mo ma-shortcut talaga ito – (The first public hearing which is a legislative process which we cannot just breeze through), this will be on next Wednesday, August 23,” he added.

Rio explained that the legal process will take around 55 days or will finish by the end of September. They will then give contenders a month to come up with their proposals.

“So end of September and, we will give the contenders, iyong interesadong maging (those interested in becoming the third telco), maybe one month to first bide their bid documents, fill it up and come up with their bid proposal,” he said.

“And then siguro (maybe) by end of October or early November, ma-identify na natin or ma-award na natin sa isang third telco po (we would have identified or awarded the contract of the third telco),” he added.

Rio, meanwhile, said they are thankful that President Duterte understood the situation, noting that Duterte directed the DICT to facilitate the entry of the third telco as early as March this year.

Rio, however, did not divulge which among the companies who earlier named would be the third telco, or which is the strongest contender.

In November last year, Duterte personally offered the third slot to the Chinese government during his bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Malacañang.

A month after, Malacañang announced that China has nominated state-run China Telecom to be the third telecoms player in the Philippines.

Later on, it was reported that South Korean multinational conglomerate LG Corporation is interested to be the third telecommunications service provider in the Philippines.

Aside from LG, Rio also revealed that Japan’s second biggest telecommunications company KDDI Corporation expressed eagerness to enter the telecoms playing field.

In March, President Duterte also revealed that India is interested in becoming the new telecommunications player in the country.

In April this year, Duterte created an oversight committee tasked to assist the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in the formulation of the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the selection and assignment of radio frequencies. It is also mandated to oversee compliance of the NTC and other implementing agencies with the provisions of the said TOR.

The Committee is also tasked to ensure timely implementation pursuant to the timeline established by the DICT and the NTC. It can also call upon other government agencies for assistance as may be required. It may also exercise incidental powers as necessary for proper exercise of its powers and functions.

In creating the Committee, Duterte pointed out that the entry of a third telco is of national interest, saying it is the administration’s objective to ensure reliable, inexpensive and secure telecommunications services.

SOURCE: MANILA BULLETIN