PT&T granted 25-year franchise extension

The Philippines’ House of Representatives has approved the granting of a 25-year franchise extension to enterprise broadband specialist Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp (PT&T) under House Bill 5601, BusinessMirror writes. The bill authorises PT&T to continue providing internet protocol-based communications and amends Republic Act (RA) 4161, as amended by RAs 5048 and 6970, for a period of 25 years. The paper notes that the renewed franchise allows PT&T ‘to establish, install, maintain and operate wire and or wireless telecommunications systems, line, circuits and stations throughout the Philippines for public domestic and international communications’. PT&T is prohibited from leasing, transferring, selling or assigning the franchise or the controlling interest without the prior approval of Congress of the Philippines.