Two to four new telecommunications operators, according to party-list representative Neil Abayon, “can fit into the Philippine market and still be profitable.”
“All this talk about having just a third telco, in my view, limits our country’s growth potentials and consumer options,” the 30-year-old solon said.
Abayon said there is room for more than just three players “given the fact that our country has a number of unused spectrum frequencies, has thousands of telcom dead spots nationwide, and knowing that internet and other technologies can widen our telcom options.”
“We have a fast-growing population and an economy that is expanding by over six percent and can soon level up to middle-income economy status within the next few years,” the legislator also said.
A published 2017 NTC report showed there are some government agencies and several private sector entities who have assigned but unused and unpaid frequencies.
Republic Act 7925 (Public Telecommunications Policy Act), enacted in March 1995 is the key law governing telecom policy today.
Abayon said RA 7925 “may be overdue for updating and upgrading because it is now over 23 years old. The preparatory studies for amending RA 7925 can be done now.”
