Roque : Duterte wants no delay for the entry of the 3rd Telco player in the country

The third Telco that will challenge PLDT and Globe must be up and running by March, this seems to be the marching orders of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the Department of Communications and Information Technology (DICT)

The President reacted  after Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque last weekend said that the government may not be able to close a deal with a third telecommunications player by next month (March).

The President wants the DICT to stick to its original target, and has denied the request for the moving of the selection of the third telecommunication company to the second quarter of this year (May).   *

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (photo credit to owner)

The third player must secure a congressional franchise and be able to spend at least P500 billion over 5 years, said Eliseo Rio, the Department of Communications and Information Technology (DICT) officer in charge.

"The President was emphatic and issued a warning to the critics of the entry of third telco player not to test the will of the government," Roque told reporters.

Roque said the President was "particularly displeased" that in order for the third player to become operational, the government will have to buy back frequencies that it gave out "for free."

During the weekend Roque gave a press conference in Ilocos Norte re the possibility of the entry of the 3rd telco company.

"Mayroong ulat na galing sa DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) na baka hindi magkaroon ng katuparan 'yung pagpasok ng 3rd telecom player by the end of the first quarter," Roque said.

No details was given by the presidential spokeperson, only that the President and the cabinet will discuss the matter this week.

"Hindi ko pa alam kung ano ang paninindigan ni Presidente diyan pero sa Lunes po ay mayroon kaming Cabinet meeting at sa Cabinet meeting, una sa agenda ang rehabilitation ng Marawi. Pangalawa is third telcom player," he said.  *

The government started its "formal selection process" last month and said it would name the third telecom company before the Holy Week or in late March. 

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Globe Telecom continue to dominate the telecommunications industry in the  country after the San Miguel group backed out as the third possible player and sold its telecommunications assets to the two players.

Report from ABS-CBN