NTC to implement new interconnection rules in January

The Philippines’ telecoms watchdog the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will implement new rules and regulations governing interconnection in the country in an attempt to reduce or eliminate anti-competitive practice and promote greater transparency among telecoms service providers. In an interview, the Deputy Commissioner of the NTC, Jorge V Sarmiento, said that the agency has finalised the details of its new rules concerning reference access offers, which will compel all public telephone operators to set out the full terms and conditions to be offered to other service providers wishing to access their networks, facilities, systems and customers. In October this year the NTC published a memo in which it requested all telcos to submit details on fixed, mobile and internet access pricing, as well as pricing for retail broadband and dial-up services, in a move designed to deter larger firms from barring smaller providers access to their facilities.