NTC instructs PLDT and Globe to interconnect in more provinces

The Filipino regulator National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has called on Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Globe Telecom to interconnect their network services in a further seven provinces by 31 December 2011. Interconnection will benefit end users who will no longer have to pay the equivalent of ‘long-distance’ call rates for local calls. The pair recently concluded the successful interconnection of services in Pampanga, following which NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said: ‘We expect local interconnection between Globe and PLDT to be fully activated in Laguna, Quezon Province, Bulacan, Bataan, Zamboanga City, Iloilo, and Nueva Ecija before 2011 ends.’ However, the Pampanga interconnection was only the second area completed by PLDT and Globe since July 2010 (Davao City). To date, more than 30 provinces and cities in the Philippines await full interconnection between the two rival operators. By contrast Globe, Bayan Telecommunications (Bayan) and Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc (Digitel) have been fully interconnected in all areas where they have a common presence since April 2011.