Converge ICT Solutions Inc. urged the government to draft clear rules that ensure an even playing field for all telecommunications companies, following the enactment of the Konektadong Pinoy bill.
“With the Konektadong Pinoy bill now lapsed into law, we are going to work closely with the government to ensure its proper implementation. At Converge, we have always pushed to ensure that every Filipino has access to world-class connectivity. This also means protecting consumers and supporting a fair and competitive market,” Dennis Anthony Uy, chief executive and co-founder of Converge, said in a statement.
“As mentioned previously, I personally support Konektadong Pinoy because I believe that the more players we have in the industry, the better it will be for consumers. Competition gives people real choice. It’s not just ‘take it or leave it’,” he said.
Uy said it is very important to ensure that the right regulatory frameworks are in place, in this case the implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
“The last thing we want is for consumers to suffer from substandard offers. We need strong, clear, and enforceable rules that guarantee an equal playing field,” he said.
“When I was Special Envoy to the Republic of Korea for digital transformation, I saw first-hand how powerful their regulators are. There, the chairman of the Korean Communications Commission has the authority to hold CEOs accountable, even putting them in jail for violations. In the Philippines, we don’t yet have that kind of enforcement power. That’s why our regulators must be equipped with enough authority to ensure compliance, protect consumers, and hold operators accountable,” Uy said.
Uy said two particular areas that the government needs to focus on are regulatory standards and cybersecurity.
“Too often, commitments are made but services are not delivered to the people. This shows that standardization is very important. Once you offer a product to the market, it should meet clear standards,” he said.
“You can’t have ‘mom and pop’ operators. They might shut down whenever they want and they don’t have the proper capability. It’s not acceptable for something to be just pulled from somewhere, put together, and then sold to consumers,” he said.
“Every operator must have the capability to protect their network. Networks must have systems in place to protect against spam, scams, and other cyber threats,” he said.
“These are just some examples, but there is a lot we need to do. We at Converge, are willing to work closely with the government and with other players in the industry to ensure that this law truly works for the benefit of the Filipino people,” Uy said.
The Konektadong Pinoy bill is seen as a game-changer — expected to improve competition and make internet services more affordable for millions of Filipinos nationwide.
