by Ralph Lawrence Llemit and Leebai Sinsuat Ambolodto
Dabawenyos expressed high hopes about the Philippines’ future in telecommunications as the government finally announced that Mislatel Consortium is the third major player in the country.
Mislatel is a consortium of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy (Udenna Corp.) and China Telecommunications Corp.
Uy is known to be a staunch supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, who ordered the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to launch the search for the third telco player and announced the result before the end of 2019.
After several months, Mislatel emerged as the lone qualified bidder, and is hailed as the possible challenger of giants PLDT, Inc. and Globe Telecom.
Upon learning of the new development, the existing telcos welcomed the entry of a challenger, seeing it as tighter market competition that will benefit the industry and consumers.
ICT-Davao Inc. president Samuel Matunog said that Mislatels entry will result to a faster and reliable service.
Matunog said “they (third telco) will compete by offering alternative products and better services .” The result of the competition will be faster and cheaper telco products and services because the existing players must preserve their subscriber base,” Matunog said.
Rica V. Gadi, NOW Outsourcing Services Managing Director, said that it is high time to break the existing monopoly in the telco industry.
“I think that we should have more choices – the power needs to be given to the consumers, customers instead of having to just deal with very little options,” Gadi said.
He said the emergence of a third playing will not only benefit us, the consumers with a new option but also encourage the other players to level up their game –by providing better products and services – it is time that the telco will have to compete for our business.”
Honorary Consul of New Zealand Vicente T. Lao, speaking as chairman of the Mindanao Business Council, told Edge Davao that the third telco will provide the necessary competition that will compel the old two players to improve the efficiency and quality of their current service.
“Ultimately, it will redound to the benefit of the country, mostly especially the consuming public who have been complaining against slow but very expensive internet service,” industrialist Lao said.
Benjie Banzon, general manager of The Royal Mandaya Hotel, said “the arrival of the new player in the telco industry is a wonderful development in the market, specially to the hotel industry.
“It will give us the opportunity to choose a business partner that could eventually drive with our objectives and standards when it comes to service and technical support, “ he said.
“I personally welcome the idea of having a third telco player, as it will surely bring about healthy competition among them, and it will result in an advantage to the market, he said.
Other Dabawenyos who lauded the arrival of a third telco player included ranking officers of companies and government officials.
“Having more players in the industry is good as it encourages healthy competition among them. With the entry of the third telco player, I look forward to much better services – excellent services even and moderate prices for their products.”
– Meggy M. Santos, Business Affairs and Communications Officer, San Miguel Brewery Inc. Mindanao Supply Center
“Options are always good. The fact that the telco industry has been such an almost monopoly since its existence is absurd to me. I think the emergence of a 3rd playing will not only benefit us, the consumers with a new option but also encourage the other players to up their game – to provide better services – it is time that the telco will have to compete for our business – because now, we are having to just swallow our pride because of a lack of options – we don’t have a choice but just to take what we are offered. These telcos now have had us around our necks and we have been held captive for so long – so the emergence of a 3rd option hopefully will make them look at how they can improve their service at the same time will start listeneing to what the customers want – and really give focus on serving for the money spent.”
– Rica V. Gadi, Managing Director, NOW Outsourcing Services
“The government has no option except to select the qualified and responsive bidder. The terms of the bid are set to precisely to remove unqualified bidders. So, based on the terms of reference selecting the winning bidder, even if the sole qualified bidder, is correct. It competes by offering alternative products and services to PLDT and Globe. The result is faster and cheaper telco products and services because the existing players must preserve their subscriber base. The challenge right is to sustain its operation by enough capital to sustain it, or else it cannot compete otherwise.”
– Atty. Samuel Matunog, ICT-Davao Inc. President
“It is good that we already have the third telco, since some Dabawenyos are complaining with the current slow internet services we have in Davao City. Although the city government of Davao still welcomes other telcos who want to partner with us and invest here in Davao City.”
– Generose Tecson, Davao City Tourism and Operations Office head
“Having a third telco company in the Philippines just might be what we need right now, in order to challenge our existing telcos to step up and improve the services they provide for Filipinos. Without a doubt, monopoly and a lack of competition has caused these companies to be complacent, simply because they know Filipinos have no other choice but to avail of their services. Perhaps with this new telco, a healthy competition would ensue, and as a result, better and more affordable internet services.”
– Joanna Realista Garado, Freelance Writer/Law Student
“I think having a 3rd telco would change the economy in that space. I think it’s good for the country but that’s a generalization that we can’t really guarantee until it’s already there. Also, I think the 3rd telco would be good if it meant our country’s infrastructure also changes in the process. If it’s the same and it’s just an additional person cutting a slice of the pie, it probably wouldn’t help in that sense as much.”
– Tom Secuya, CARVE Founder Tom Secuya
“Healthy competition is good. It’s going to make people step up their game. Any new telco, whether it would be one, two or even ten for that matter, as long as it is for the betterment of the Filipino, that’s good. Because they all want to provide the best services for their customers, so there will be a stiff competition.”
– Sharlene Faye Lim, LTS Malls, Inc. President
“The 3rd Telco player in the Philippines brings out a new advantage for all the Filipino people. Considering that I am working in a company who produce smartphones, in time… we really need a better network provider to compete with those in other countries also don’t forget the quality service of their soon to be employees.”
– Tisonette Tumlos, Field Trainer, Philippine Oppo Mobile Technology Inc.
