Biz leader hopes new telco to benefit public

CEBU, Philippines — The faster internet promised by Mislatel, the Filipino-Chinese consortium chosen as the country’s third telco player, remains yet to be seen.

Whether the consortium lives up to its promise is something Filipino consumers still anticipate, said Filipino-Cebuano Business Club president Rey Calooy.

While the entry of a third player in the telco industry is definitely a welcome development, Calooy hoped that this would really improve services and stir up competition in the industry.

"Hopefully this will benefit us, businesses and consumers," he said.

"It remains to be seen. But hopefully this new player would offer something that the existing players don't," he said in a phone interview with The FREEMAN.

Calooy pointed out the new major player may have to shell out a big investment to build its telco infrastructure in the Philippines.

Mislatel, the consortium between China Telecom and Filipino businessman Dennis Uy, committed to match the coverage of Globe and PLDT in three years.

The joint venture committed to cover 37 percent of the country on its first year and 70 percent on its third year, Acting Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio had earlier said in reports.

Mislatel's coverage will grow to up to 84 percent on its fifth year, he had noted.

Consumers have pinned their hopes on the firm's promise to provide "faster and cheaper" internet -- 27 mbps on its first year and 55 mbps on its second year -- bringing internet speed close to that in Singapore.

Filipino consumers have been clamoring for better services from the two existing telco companies, which have dominated the industry.

Mislatel secured provisional third telco rights on Nov. 7 after regulators disqualified its two rivals, Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp or PT&T and Sear, which includes former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson.