Government proposes new lower fee for mobile phones

The government of the Philippines has reduced the proposed registration fee for new mobile phones sold in the country from USD1.60 to USD0.55, following intense pressure from local service providers and mobile manufacturers. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is looking to bring in the new fees to curb the influx of illegal handsets into the so-called ‘gray market’. Under the plan, networks service providers and dealers would be required to place a sticker on each handset sold as proof of payment for the registration fee. The Filipino telecoms industry reacted angrily to the fees being put forward by the regulator, saying they would spark a hike in phone prices, which would have to be passed on to consumers.