Regulator increases telcos’ admin fees

The Manila Times reports that the Philippines’ regulator the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is hiking its administration fees for telecoms operators and broadcasting firms from 20% to 40% due to high inflation. Currently, the NTC collects PHP500 million (USD11.6 million) in administrative fees per year from the companies involved and in 2010 it raised a total of PHP3.7 billion – exceeding the PHP3.1 billion target set by the Department of Budget and Management. The paper cites NTC executive director Edgardo Cabarios as saying that the country’s high CPI and the regulator’s own improved productivity are the reasons for the hike, which is due to be effected from the fourth quarter of this year.