Smart Communications Inc. on Monday announced a P1-per-minute call promo to all networks, signaling a price war after rival Globe Telecom Inc. initiated the move.
Smart Express Call 50 offers calls to any network for P1 per minute, or 50 minutes of all-net calls valid for three days. The P1 per minute all-net call rates are available for Smart postpaid subscribers who may enjoy the rates on top of their existing plan, the company said.
TNT and Sun will roll out similar offers, allowing users to conveniently boost their existing TNT and Sun promos with 5 minutes of all-net calls for P5.
Globe earlier announced P1-per-minute calls to all networks. Globe and Smart P1-per-minute call rate was a result of reduced voice interconnect access charges across telecommunications companies.
Globe and PLDT Inc. signed in November 2016 an agreement to reduce interconnection rate for voice calls between the two operators to P2.50 per minute from P4 per minute for mobile to mobile and landline to mobile voice calls. Access charges for mobile to landline voice calls cost P3 per minute.
At present, calls between Smart and Globe cost P7.50 a minute.
Smart earlier said it was accelerating network improvement this year and expanding its 4G long term evolution coverage to include a total of 785 municipalities by the end of 2017, in line with its commitment to the National Telecommunications Commission.
Meanwhile, Globe Telecom on Monday blamed home owner associations for poor mobile signal and internet services in their respective villages.
Globe said the adamant refusal of HOAs and even barangays to allow telecom facilities in the form of cell sites, outdoor distributed antenna system and fiber optic cables continued to deprive residents of much needed connectivity and reliable mobile services.
The company said aside from having to deal with villages that rejected cell site proposals, it was also having permitting difficulties in establishing right-of-way in subdivisions relating to the deployment of broadband fiber optics in line with its initiative to improve the state of wireline internet in the country.
Globe chief information and technology officer Gil Genio said the company was experiencing permitting issues for right-of-way and cell site deployment in Corinthian Gardens, Dasmariñas Village, Magallanes, Las Vista, Greenhills North, Corinthian Hills, Alpha Village, Pentagon Village, Capitol Hills Golf Subdivision, Xavierville 1, Loyola Grand Villas, Montgomery Place, Valle Verde 3, Valle Verde 4, Ayala Heights, Capitol Homes, Vista Real 1 & 2, UP Campus, Don Antonio Royale Estate Subdivision, Woodside Homes and Rolling Hills Subdivision.
It was also experiencing permitting difficulties in Hobart Homes, Don Antonio Heights, Alta Vista Village and Xavierville 3, Hillsborough, Forbes Park, Bel-Air, San Lorenzo, Green Meadows, Fruitville, JEE Village, BF Homes, Merville, South Bay Garden, Concepcion, Modesta, Jaybee, St. Mary’s Subdivision, Vista Real Classica Subdivision, Meteor Homes, Valle Verde 1, Kings Vill Executive Village, Smile Citihomes Condominium, Thomas Homes and Vista Rio.
“Similar to the permitting difficulties that we encounter with our cell site proposals, Globe is confronted with challenges in establishing right-of-way for the deployment of broadband fiber optics,” Genio said.
“We remain optimistic, however, that with government support, we will soon be able to work out an arrangement with HOAs concerned,” he said.
Genio said some of these HOAs were too slow to address the company’s right-of-way applications, effectively tying the telecommunication provider’s hand in addressing customer demand for high-speed internet service.
Others rejected right-of-way application as they were against construction or installation of structures within their respective villages, Globe said.
Others demanded that Globe work out a co-location arrangement with Meralco for the joint use of its electric poles. Genio said most of the time, Meralco was not amendable to such an arrangement.
Genio further said HOAs unnecessarily favored a particular service provider by denying permit applications made by Globe on the basis that residents were already served by the other provider.
“By standing in the way of our efforts to build more cell sites, these HOAs effectively favor one service provider over the others, thus, are in complicity in monopolistic practices. This is contrary to public service laws since Globe must comply with the same public service laws if a customer asks for service,” Genio said.