Nationlink eyes 6,000 POP by 2008

Nationlink, an automated teller machine (ATM) and Point-Of-Sale (POS) network operator is targeting some 6,000 points-of-presence (POP) over the next two years.

The target areas are cities and municipalities currently underserved by the MegaLink, BancNet and ExpressNet.

The rollout will be made through wireless communications technology, the growing demand of Filipinos from the countryside, and by the potential for domestic and international trade.

"We are no longer bound by the physical and financial constraints of landline-based communications," Zoilo Jesus Dela Cruz III, president and chief executive officer of Infoserve, operator of Nationlink network and electronic fund transfer (EFT) gateway facilities.

Dela Cruz reveals that they are eyeing links with thrift banks, rural banks, remittance companies, cooperatives, credit unions, microfinance non-government organizations (NGOs) and even local government units (LGUs) as partners. The network offers these prospective partners the flexibility to choose from a mix of different products and services.

Thrift and rural banks, as well as the larger cooperatives, remittance companies, credit unions, NGOs and LGUs, may decide to purchase the NATIONLINK ATMConnect solutions, which include ATM facilities similar to those owned by the commercial banks. These ATM facilities will be able to perform cash-out functions, accept bills payment, and offer card-to-card transfer between its cardholders.