Globe links up with Bayantel, Digitel in 3 areas

MANILA, Philippines - Residents and business establishments in the provinces of Zambales, Sorsogon and Camarines Norte will now be able to make local calls within each province following the commercial activation of interconnection with Globe Telecom by Bayan Telecommunications (Bayantel) and Digital Telecommunications Philippines (Digitel).

The local interconnection between Globe and Digitel in Zambales started last July 30, while that of Globe and Bayantel covering Camarines Norte and Sorsogon took effect on Aug. 2 and Aug. 4, respectively. Prior to this, a Globe landline subscriber had to pay long-distance rates to call a Digitel landline subscriber from the same province, and vice-versa.

Recently, Globe inked similar telecommunication agreements with Digitel and Bayantel for the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Albay, Camarines Sur and Cagayan.

With the latest interconnection agreements, Globe and Bayantel have now interconnected more than 90 percent of their respective common areas of presence throughout the Philippines. On the other hand, Globe and Digitel have interconnected more than 80 percent of their respective common areas of presence in the country.

“Phone subscribers within Zambales, Sorsogon or Camarines Norte may now call each other locally by simply dialling a seven-digit phone number. This will result in cost savings for thousands of phone subscribers,” Globe corporate and legal services group head Froilan Castelo said.

“This shows that even in the midst of tough competition in the telecommunications industry, some of us can work together for the public good.”

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) mandates compulsory interconnection of authorized public telecommunications carriers under Republic Act 7925. This aims 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.