The Department of Information and Communications Technology has ordered the National Telecommunications Commission to promulgate rules and regulations for telecoms entities to mandatory unlock phones and devices after their lock-in period.
This pro-consumer policy came after the DICT issued Memorandum Order 004, Series of 2018, on Dec. 14, 2018. It gives telecoms subscribers the option of changing between compatible wireless service providers.
The memo says subscribers who have completed lock-in periods and have no outstanding obligations on their subscription contracts can demand to mandatorily unlock their phones and devices on convenient sites, facilities and processes that will be provided by their respective wireless service providers.
“This is an additional Christmas gift of this administration to the Filipino telco subscribers,” DICT acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said.
“While we empower the industry through the entry of the new major player, we are also pushing for pro-consumer measures. This is also a step to encourage our service providers to innovate on their offers.”
The DICT ordered the NTC to draft the Memorandum Circular for the memo’s appropriate rules and regulations and conduct consultations and hearings.
As of the end of September, Globe Telecom had 2.5 million postpaid subscribers, while Smart and Sun had 1.4 million and 975,000 subscribers, respectively.