PLDT, Globe ink interconnection pact covering 4 more provinces

MANILA, Philippines - Dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. have expanded their interconnection links in four more provinces.

PLDT spokesperson Ramon Isberto said the interconnection agreement allows free calls between PLDT and Globelines in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Zambales, and Misamis Occidental by the end of the year.

“Our subscribers in Ilocos, Zambales, and Misamis Occidental will soon be able to call their friends, family members, and business associates within their provinces anytime, without worrying about long distance charges,” Isberto said.

Prior to the commercial activation of the interconnection, landline customers of both PLDT and Globelines are charged with long distance rate when making phone calls to one another.

PLDT has business offices in these areas that serve walk-in telephone applicants, actual installation and repair, accepts bills payment, services report repairs, and billing concerns. It offers voice, video, and data or triple play services on a single internet protocol (IP) platform.

Both PLDT and Globe have existing interconnection in Metro Manila, Cavite, Iloilo, Capiz, Batangas, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Leyte, Davao City, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zamboanga, Laguna, Quezon, La Union, Nueva Ecija, and Benguet, General Santos/South Cotabato , Tarlac, Davao del Norte, Pangasinan, Albay, and Sorsogon.

PLDT and Globe inked an interconnection pact last Aug. 14 covering Albay.

The free local calls to Globelines subscribers in Albay covers Daraga, Guinobatan, Legazpi City, Ligao City, Oas, Polangui, Tabaco City, and Camalig as well as Bulan, Castilla, Gubat, Casiguran, and Donsol in Sorsogon.

Republic Act 7925 or the Public Telecommunications Policy Act mandates the compulsory interconnection of authorized public telecommunications carriers to create a universally accessible and fully integrated nationwide telecommunications network.

The law would also encourage more infrastructure investments from the private sector that would benefit the consumers.

The PLDT Group had a subscriber base of 75 million as of end-September comprising of 69 million wireless subscribers as well as 3.7 million broadband subscribers and 2.2 million fixed line subscribers.

Wireless giant Smart Communications Inc. had 25.7 million subscribers as of end-September while Talk ‘N Text had 27.8 million, and Sun Cellular with 15.5 million.

On the other hand, Globe’s subscriber base grew 17 percent to 42.85 million in the first nine months of the year from 36.52 million in the same period last year.