Filipino third telco bidders opposed to frequency auction

The Manila Standard reports that many of the groups interested in becoming the Philippines’ New Major Player (NMP) do not back the Finance Department’s frequency auction proposals. The paper cites the results of a survey published by the Department of Information and Communications (DICT) which found that, when questioned, only 17% of the participants backed the auction plan, compared to the 75% figure for an alternative plan that focuses more on the highest committed level of service (HCLoS) for the selection of the NMP (or so-called ‘third telco’ to challenge PLDT and Globe Telecom). 8% abstained from the survey, it said. It is understood that at least 15 potential bidding groups participated in the informal survey at a public hearing last Friday (6 June). The results of the survey will now be presented to an oversight committee, composed of the DICT, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Department of Finance, the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Executive Secretary.