Mislatel Consortium of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy and China Telecommunications Corp. vowed to provide high-speed broadband service at a much lower price, once it starts its operation as the third major telecom player.
“We have to be disruptive and so we have to offer lower prices, we have to [offer faster internet service],” said Mislatel Consortium spokesman Adel Tamano.
“We have to be the better alternative or else consumers will not go to us,” he said.
Mislatel, in its submitted highest committed level of service bid that won them the NMP title, committed to deliver 27 megabits per second of minimum average broadband speed in its first year before upgrading to 55 Mbps in the next four years.
Mislatel took the first step to make their promises work after one of its partners, China Telecom and DICT signed a joint letter of intent on Nov. 20 for a feasibility study in using the government’s cable landing stations and connect it to the former’s submarine cable.
The international submarine broadband infrastructure will connect the country to Hong Kong and the United States which offer cheaper rates.
Department of Information and Communications Technology acting Secretary Eliseo Rio said the facility would also be available to other telcos.
Mislatel Consortium said it would spend P257 billion in infrastructure and service rollout during the five-year period. Darwin G. Amojelar
“Our government has full control on the consequences the NMP will suffer if it does not perform,” said Rio.
Rio advised the NMP to partner up with small telco players in order to fulfill its commitment, saying Mislatel could share its facilities and frequencies with them.
Rio also expressed his positive outlook on the impending entry of the NMP, which is eyeing to operate by the latter part of 2019.
“The Filipino people are very excited [for this NMP] and we are hoping that we continue to fulfill the aspiration and campaign promise of President Duterte to change the telecommunications landscape and improve our internet speed,” said Rio.
