Both Sear Telecom and PT&T can still file their appeal at a cost of P10 million to the NTC en banc within three calendar days upon receipt of the denial of the motion for reconsideration.
Senators Ralph Recto and Grace Poe said the appointment of Gringo Honasan as DICT chief comes in at a critical time of the selection of the new major telco player.
Two to four new telecommunications operators, according to party-list representative Neil Abayon, "can fit into the Philippine market and still be profitable."
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has already received an unsolicited proposal from a private firm that plans to construct wireless towers for shared use.
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte signed on Tuesday, October, 23, Republic Act 11089 granting Streamtech, a company owned by the Villar family, a 25-year franchise to operate a telecommunications system throughout the country.
The government is set to announce a "provisional" third telco on November 7 barring any decision from the courts, according to Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) acting secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr.
PT&T president and CEO James Velasquez said they have bought the bid documents from the NTC and is confident of their chances of being selected as the country's third major telco.
DICT acting secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr. said the participation fee of P1 million paid by Now Telecom might have cost a significant impact on its mother company, Now Corporation, whose operating income only stood at P6.3 million in 2017.
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, in an interview with Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, said that he will be taking over the decision on the selection of the third telco player if this will not be resolved at the soonest possible time.
DICT acting secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr. reportedly said he will quit his post if he is outvoted by the oversight committee for the entry of the third major telecommunications player in the country.
