Extelcom offers fillip of ‘advance payment’ for 3G licence

Express Telecommunications Co (Express Telecom, or Extelcom) has reportedly offered to give the regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), a PHP2.25 billion (USD50 million) upfront payment in return for what it hopes will be a ‘favourable response’ concerning its bid to secure the country’s final 3G operating licence. The Business Mirror writes that the upfront fee would be on top of the USD100 million it intends to spend in the initial rollout phase to install its extended global system for mobile communications (E-GSM) network. In addition, Extelcom bosses are also looking to increase their equity and market capitalisation to at least USD100 million and will aim to post a performance bond equivalent to 30% of its rollout cost for the first two years until the fifth year, or upon completion of the rollout programme. In a filing to the Court of Appeals (CA) in support of its plans, the operator said: ‘Extelcom is determined to apply for a 3G licence. In its serious desire to establish and operate a 3G network, Extelcom submitted on 1 March a proposal before the NTC requesting for the assignment of the 1965MHz-1975MHz/2155MHz-2165MHz frequency band for use in its proposed telecommunications network.’