PLDT, Bayan ink interconnect deal in Negros, Albay, Leyte

ANC Dateline Philippines reports that the country’s biggest telco Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) has signed a network interconnect agreement with fellow operator Bayantel Telecommunications (Bayan), covering the areas of Negros, Albay and Leyte. Under the terms of the contract Bayan’s fixed telephony subscribers in the three provinces will no longer have to pay a surcharge to call a PLDT number. The interconnect deal, which was completed at the offices of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), follows the signing of a similar agreement covering Cebu and Camarines Sur last year. The NTC believes that mandating interconnect deals will stimulate infrastructure investment to the benefit of end users.