MANILA, Philippines - The call of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to activate network interconnection services in more areas in the country is gradually coming to fruition after the successful activation of local interconnection services between Globe Telecom and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) in Bulacan.
The interconnection between the two took place after NTC commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba announced that the regulatory body “expects local interconnection between Globe and PLDT to be fully activated in seven areas in the country, which includes Bulacan, before the year ends.”
With the full activation of local interconnection services, residents of Angat, Balagtas, Baliuag, Bocaue, Bulacan, Bustos, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Malolos, Marilao, Meycauayan, Obando, Pandi, Paombong, Plaridel, Pulilan, San Ildefonso, San Jose Del Monte, San Miguel, San Rafael and Sta. Maria can now call each other without having to pay long distance charges or being charged with toll rates.
In March 2011, Bulacan provincial board member Enrique Dela Cruz Jr. certified a resolution to fast track the implementation of interconnection services among major telecommunication operators in the province, citing that the project will promote P1.2 billion worth of investments in Bulacan, as well as produce more than 4,000 jobs specifically in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.
“Bulacan is one of the biggest provinces in the country in terms of population. This significant initiative will definitely impact and benefit a lot of subscribers,” said Froilan Castelo, head for Corporate and Legal Services Group of Globe. “Public service is top priority for Globe. The delays we experienced in the past did not dampen our efforts to provide quality but affordable telecommunication services for the people of Bulacan, which ultimately impacts the viability of the province’s economy as a whole.”
Bulacan is the third area where Globe has completed its local interconnection services with PLDT, after implementation in Davao City in July 2010 and Pampanga in August 2011. To date, there are over 30 provinces and cities nationwide awaiting for full interconnection between Globe and PLDT.
Meanwhile, the networks of Globe, Bayan Telecommunications (Bayantel) and Digitel Telecommunications Philippines (Digitel) have been 100 percent interconnected in all areas of common presence and operations nationwide since April this year.
Local interconnection means that residents and business establishments in various provinces or cities can make local calls without any extra charges. Without interconnection, a Globe landline subscriber would have to pay long-distance rates to call a PLDT, Digitel or Bayantel landline subscriber within the same area, and vice-versa.
The NTC mandates compulsory interconnection of authorized public telecommunications carriers under Republic Act 7925.