The NTC said it has issued an order granting provisional authority to Newsnet, a company owned by businessman Mel Velarde, to operate pay-television and multi-media services in South Luzon, North Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) failed to issue the certificate of public convenience within the period required by law.
The change applies to telephone numbers with the area code “02”. This covers PLDT customers in Metro Manila and also those in Rizal Province, San Pedro, Laguna, and Bacoor, Cavite.
The DICT said the local telcos were given six months to comply from the effectivity of the NTC's implementing rules and regulations of the Mobile Number Portability Act on July 2.
Mobile phone subscribers may now keep their numbers even after they changed their network providers starting July 2, according to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
During the 4-hour downtime that occurred Tuesday afternoon, Globe users were unable to make calls, send or receive text messages, or use their cellphone data.
The NTC has deferred the implementation of the eight-digit landline number in Greater Manila Area to October 6, 2019 in order to give sufficient time for local banks and credit card companies to prepare for the change.
Government agencies have issued a call to parents to monitor their children’s use of the Internet as the so-called "Momo Challenge", an alleged suicide challenge targeting children and adolescents, became viral online.
DICT acting secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. earlier said that the mandatory unlocking of mobile phones will encourage telcos to be innovative on services they offer to consumers.