Globe, Digitel to link up in Albay, Ilocos Norte

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Telecom has entered into an interconnection agreement with Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc. (Digitel) to enable subscribers of both parties to call each other locally within the provinces of Albay and Ilocos Norte.

The interconnection between the two telcos took effect on July 1 for Albay and July 2 for Ilocos Norte. It allows landline customers of Globe and Digitel to realize significant savings since they no longer need to pay for long-distance charges to call the other network.

In the past, a Globeline user calling a Digitel landline subscriber next door will be charged for long-distance calls since there was no direct connection between the two companies. This time, Globelines customers can simply dial the seven-digit telephone number to connect with Digitel and vice versa.

“This shows that despite being competitors, major players like Globe and Digitel can still provide cooperation, coordination and support towards affording more people greater access to telecommunications,” Globe corporate and legal services head Attty. Froilan Castelo said.

With this development, Globe is set to provide its wireline products and services to the residents of Albay and Ilocos Norte, as it pursues its network rollout in these provinces.

According to Castelo, the move is in compliance with the compulsory interconnection of authorized public telecommunications carriers under Republic Act 7925 which aims to create a universally accessible and fully integrated nationwide telecommunications network to encourage more infrastructure investments from the private sector that would benefit the consumers.

 “We hope to provide local interconnection to all Globelines subscribers, that is why we are always open to negotiations with other local exchange carriers. This way, we can help bring universal access and a fully-integrated telecommunications network to our customers nationwide,” he added.

Earlier, Globe also forged a similar interconnection deal with Bayan Telecommunications (BayanTel) Globelines and BayanTel landline customers in Camarines Sur and Albay to call each other without any additional fee.