Digitel inks linkup pacts with PLDT, Globe

Digitel has signed interconnection agreements for voice calls with four phone companies and is now working on SMS or text message interconnection as it prepares for the commercial launch of its GSM service shortly.

Digitel senior vice president William Pa-mintuan said Digitel has voice interconnection with PLDT, Globe, BayanTel, and Extelcom. He said Smart is expected to sign up in a matter of days.

He said he is confident about the SMS interconnection because it is mandated by law which seeks to protect the public by promoting competition and giving subscribers more carriers to choose from.

With voice interconnection a done deal except for Smart, SMS interconnection should follow shortly since "interconnection is compulsory," he said.

Competition should considerably heat up when Digitel launches its GSM service, he said, since every carrier expectedly would try to outdo each other in getting subscriber support. "The consumer always benefits from a competitive environment."

Digitel is a unit of the Gokongwei-con-trolled JG Summit Group which include Uni-versal Robina Corp., Robinsons Land Corp., Robinsons malls, Cebu Pacific, Robinsons Savings Bank, JG Summit Petrochem Corp., among others.

The law on compulsory interconnection Pa-mintuan cited is Executive Order No. 59 which in part says that "the (National Telecom-munications) Commission shall expedite the interconnection of all NTC authorized public telecommunications carriers into a universally accessible and fully integrated nationwide telecommunications network for the benefit of the public...interconnection between NTC authorized public telecommunications carriers shall be compulsory."