DICT eyeing 4th, 5th telco player in PH – Honasan

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan said the government is eyeing a fourth and a fifth telecommunications company (telco) to further improve the quality of services in the country.

Speaking with reporters at the Senate before the Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed his ad interim appointment as DICT chief, Honasan said a fourth and fifth telco would mean cheaper and more efficient service for Filipinos.

“We will encourage a fourth and a fifth sa tamang panahon, para bumababa yung halaga ng serbisyo, cheaper at saka bumilis, more efficient,” he said.

Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company Inc. (Mislatel) was earlier named as the country’s new telco player to break the duopoly of Globe and Smart in the telecommunications industry and is expected to improve telecommunications services.

Mislatel consortium, a venture of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp. and state-run China Telecom, is expected to start accepting subscribers by 2020.  /muf