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MOBILE-phone operators are expected to cut by half the
rates of short message service (SMS) from the current P1
per SMS sent to one network from another, a move which
might just put discussions to limit the cap on
interconnection charge to a definite close.
Globe
Telecom was the first to propose this. It told the
National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) recently
that it intends to implement an off-net SMS rate of P20
per 40 texts per one day. Effectively, the cost of one
SMS sent by a Globe subscriber to another network will
be P0.50.
And
because the SMS rate cut applies to other networks, then
obviously other cellular operators would have to
implement the same.
Sun
Cellular, the mobile brand of Digital Telecommunications
Philippines Inc. (Digitel), agreed to do the same.
“It’s
logical. Even if we have the lowest rates in the market,
if subscribers of another network will only be charged
P0.50 if they send SMS to Sun Cellular, then obviously
we have to respond,” said the company’s senior vice
president for legal services William Pamintuan in an
interview last week.
Smart
Communications Inc. did not say if it will follow suit
but officials said, “The entire industry will make an
announcement soon.”
NTC
officials, at a celebration of the agency’s anniversary
on Friday, said they have not yet acted on Globe’s
application to implement the proposed slash in SMS fee.
“Globe’s
application is still pending. We will still study the
draft circulars we issued in connection with the cap on
access charges even if they will reduce the
text-messaging fees. What is sure is that we will
resolve the issue they raised in their position papers
if we, the NTC, are authorize to impose a cap,” said NTC
Commissioner Ruel Canobas.
Industry
sources said Globe, Smart and Sun Cellular have agreed
to adopt the rate cut in SMS, but could just not make an
announcement on this because President Arroyo will be
the one to reveal this development in her State of the
Nation Address today.
Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, who earlier
said phone companies should honor the new policies which
their regulators are proposing to implement, had hinted
last week, at the commercial opening of Ninoy Aquino
International Airport Terminal 3, that telcos will heed
the government’s call to lower telecommunications costs.
“They
will announce something next week. We are looking
forward to that,” said Mendoza in an interview Tuesday
last week.
In a
separate interview, Globe senior vice president for
corporate and regulatory affairs group Rodolofo Salalima
said the proposed rate cut will only apply to SMS. Voice
rates, he said, will remain unchanged. |
