Globe, PLDT complete linkup in Tarlac

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala-controlled Globe Telecom Inc. and dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co (PLDT) have activated local interconnection in hometown of President Aquino in Tarlac allowing the landline subscribers of both companies to call each other locally.

Froilan Castelo, head of corporate and legal services group of Globe, said in a statement that the move is in compliance with the compulsory interconnection of authorized public telecommunications carriers under Republic Act 7925.

Under the law, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) mandates compulsory interconnection of authorized public telecommunications carriers 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.

“This shows that despite being competitors, major players like Globe and PLDT can still provide cooperation, coordination and support towards affording more people greater access to telecommunications,” Castelo stressed.

With the development, landline customers of Globe and PLDT would also realize significant savings since they no longer need to pay for long distance charges when calling the other network.

In the past, a Globeline user calling a PLDT landline subscriber next door is charged for long distance calls amounting to P6.50 per minute since there was no direct connection between the two companies.

This time, Globeline customers can simply dial the seven-digit telephone number to connect with PLDT and vice versa.

Globe and PLDT earlier activated interconnection link up in the province of Quezon including Lucena, Candelaria, Gen. Nakar, Infanta, Lopez, Mauban, Pagbilao, Sariaya, Tayabas, Tiaong, Calauag, Dolores, Lucban, Quezon, Polilio, Real, Unisan, Catanauan, Mulanay, Pitogo, Gumaca, and Atimonan.

The telco providers have also completed their link up in the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, Zamboanga, and Laguna.

Globe earlier pledged its full support and commitment to NTC to activate interconnection in more areas nationwide to protect consumer welfare and spur continued growth of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry in the country.

The networks of Globe, Bayan Telecommunications (BayanTel), and Digitel Telecommunications Philippines have been 100 percent interconnected in all areas of common presence and operations nationwide since April 2011.