RIVAL telecommunications companies Globe Telecom Inc. (GTI) and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) have commercially activated the local interconnection in Ilocos Sur, allowing the subscribers of both service providers to call each other without additional charges.
According to GTI, the partnership between the country’s two largest telecommunications firms will allow landline customers of both entities to realize substantial savings as they no longer have to pay for long distance charges when calling one another.
Prior to the commercial activation of the interconnection, landline customers of both Globelines, the telephone arm of Globe, and PLDT were charged with long distance rate when making phones to one another.
With the commercial availability of the interconnection, Globe subscribers can simply dial the seven-digit telephone number to connect with PLDT and vice-versa.
“The goal of the company has always been to offer products and services that are relevant to our customers. The expansion of our collaboration with competition further enhances our customers’ access to affordable telecommunication services, especially for those that are residing in the provinces,” Globe General Counsel Vicente Froilan M. Castelo said.
He added that aside from its main competitor, Globe is open for discussions for potential interconnection arrangement with other local exchange carriers.
Discussions for such cooperation are in line with provisions for compulsory interconnection of authorized public telecommunications carriers under Republic Act 7925.
The law aims to create a universally accessible and fully integrated nationwide telecommunications network to encourage more infrastructure investments from the private sector that would benefit the consumers.
So far, the two companies have existing interconnection in Metro Manila, Cavite, Iloilo, Capiz, Batangas, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Leyte, Davao City, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zamboanga, Laguna, Quezon, La Union, Nueva Ecija, and Benguet, General Santos/South Cotabato, Tarlac, Davao del Norte, and Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte and Zambales.
Lorenz S. Marasigan