TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE providers better shape up, Senator Grace S. Poe warned yesterday, as she recently launched a social media campaign that compiles complaints from the public.
Ms. Poe, in a statement, said the common grievances from netizens have been slow internet speed, poor connection, exorbitant charges, and disappearing prepaid load. “The complaints of netizens will not fall on deaf ears.
We will gather them and raise them in appropriate committee hearings,” she said.
In addition, the senator said there appears to be a slow rollout of infrastructure improvements while companies introduce usage plans that are restrictive.
“Telcos have slowly removed their unlimited data plan in their mobile subscriptions and shifted to volume pricing and introduced caps on prepaid and postpaid plans. This way, they are able to charge more per customer as data consumption increases and at the same time, able to cut down on heavy users,” she said.
Ms. Poe said the “duopoly” in the industry, referring to major players PLDT, Inc. and Globe Telecom, Inc., does not create a competitive environment.
“There’s no real competition. Here it is comparing a rotten apple with another rotten apple. It is a duopoly, there is no real incentive to improve service,” she said.
Sought for comment, PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. Public Affairs Head Ramon R. Isberto said the two firms are closely working with government agencies such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and National Telecommunications Commission to improve internet service in the country and to make it accessible to more Filipinos.
“On our own account, PLDT and Smart continue to invest massively to roll out our fiber to the home, LTE and WiFi networks, which are bringing high-speed internet to more cities and towns in the country at affordable prices,” he said.
In the event that there will be a Senate hearing, he added, company representatives will attend if invited.
BusinessWorld also sought Globe for comments but had yet to reply as of press time.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Mario M. Banzon
