PLDT Surrenders Frequency For Third Telco Player ‘at no cost’

In preparation for the entry of a third telecommunications player in the country, Philippines’ telecom giant PLDT Inc. has finally surrendered one of its frequencies to the government for free.

With the directive from the National Telecommunication Commision or NTC, PLDT surrendered its possession of the 3G radio frequency that was previously assigned to Connectivity Unlimited Resource Enterprises Inc. or CURE. Smart Communications, a telco mobile unit acquired the CURE frequency back in 2007 and used it to launch the now defunct Red mobile.

This is to confirm that the PLDT Group is waiving its right to recover any and all costs of investments associated with the affected frequency. Accordingly, the new assignee of the affected frequency shall have no obligation to reimburse the PLDT Group for any of the said costs. – PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan

President Rodrigo Duterte has been consistently pushing for the entry of a third telco company in the Philippines to break the PLDT and Globe Telecom duopoly to boost the internet services in the country.