PLDT-Digitel merger poised to miss revised 30 July deadline?

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT’s) planned acquisition of a majority stake in rival operator Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc (Digitel) looks set to be pushed back once again, after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) confirmed it would need more time to review the deal. The takeover was expected to take place by 30 July but BusinessWorld quotes the NTC’s Gamaliel A Cordoba as saying: ‘Most likely [we will] need time. It’s already nearing the end of July so I cannot say for sure if the NTC can rule on this before or on 30 July’.