Recall of frequencies urged

A PARTY-LIST group wants the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to cancel the provisional authorities (PAs) and frequency assignments granted to Wi-Tribe Telecoms Inc. (WTTI), Hi-Frequency Telecommunication Inc. (HFTI) and New Century Telecoms Inc. (NCTI).

In a complaint filed with the NTC, Abyan Ilonggo said the 700 MHz frequencies assigned to these companies had been unutilized for years, in violation of the conditions contained in the provisional authorities granted to them by the NTC.

Abyan Ilonggo party-list president Rolex Suplico said that WTTI, HFTI and NCTI had failed to comply with the conditions in the PAs which required them to “commence deployment of the first year of the roll-out within nine months and to launch commercial operation within 12 months from date of frequency assignment sheet.”

Operate within five years

“As per the legislative franchises of these entities, they were supposed to commence operations within five years from effectivity thereof.  Moreover, NTC Memorandum Circular 3-3-96 states that the NTC should review frequency assignments periodically and can recall frequencies assigned to private networks if they remain unused for at least one year,” said Suplico.

“Considering that the respondents have violated the conditions of their PAs and frequency assignments, we submit that the PAs and frequency assignments should be recalled, canceled or otherwise revoked,” he said.

The 700 MHz band, currently held by the three companies, is one of the most sought after bands for 4G/Long Term Evolution (4G/LTE or just LTE) deployment around the world due to its efficiency, higher penetration inside buildings and wider coverage, which reduces the number of towers required for setting up the LTE network as well as the capital expenditure involved in rolling out and operating the network.

“One of the core programs of Abyan Ilonggo is to increase Internet speed in the country, and we believe that the utilization of the 700 MHz frequency for broadband provides a solution for this problem,” said Suplico.