Now Telecom Company Inc. led by chairman Mel Velarde remains keen on offering cellular mobile telephone services amid a dispute with the National Telecommunications Commission over frequency allocation and license to operate.
“We have licenses similar to DITO, Globe and PLDT, but they won’t give us sufficient frequencies. Once the problem with frequency and ARTA [Anti-Red Tape Authority ] is addressed, we will implement the mobile services,” said Velarde.
Velarde expressed optimism that Now Telecom would offer CMTS in the next two years.
ARTA issued a resolution dated March 31, reiterating its earlier resolution declaring the completeness of NowTel’s application for provisional authority to operate CMTS in the 220-Mhz frequency range from 1970-Mhz to 1980-Mhz paired with 2160-Mhz to 2170-Mhz and 3.6-Ghz to 3.8-Ghz, including 5G frequencies for mobile and fixed wireless.
ARTA on Aug. 17 denied with finality the motions seeking to reverse its June 17 ruling, which vacated its earlier resolution and order of automatic approval of the extension of CMTS permit and the assignment of frequencies for its effectual use by Now Telecom.
The case is now pending with the Court of Appeals.
The NTC granted NOW Telecom in 2005 a permit to operate CMTS based on the latter’s legal, technical and financial qualifications.
NowTel’s franchise was extended for another 25 years beginning 2018.
The NOW Group earlier said it allocated P7.8 billion in capital expenditures over the next 10 years to upgrade its 5G-capable 50 base stations in Metro Manila and Calabarzon and build 100 more base stations across Mega Manila.
The company also plans to acquire an initial 20-percent stake in unit News and Entertainment Network Corp. and increase it to 100 percent over time.