Olongapo Telecom & Information Technology

Monday, December 17, 2007

Innove gets licence to offer services in Subic & Olongapo

Innove gets licence to offer services in Subic Freeport and Olongapo City

INNOVE Communications Inc. has obtained a permanent license from the National Telecommunications Commission to operate both the international domestic leased line services and local telephone service with public payphone facilities in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and in Olongapo City.

The NTC said it approved Innove’s application because of the high demand for data services and phenomenal growth of Internet-related services and e-commerce market.

The regulator handed down its decision on December 10, saying: “In the interest of public service, and because Innove is legally, financially and technically qualified, the Commission grants Innove a certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide international domestic leased line services and to establish, operate and maintain local telephone services with public payphone facilities and public calling stations within the territorial jurisdiction of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), for a period coterminous with the life of its existing franchise.”

Innove, the wireline unit of Globe Telecom, was first issued a provisional authority by the SBMA on February 17, 2006, valid for 18 months or up to August 16, 2007.

Earlier, Subic Telecommuni-cations Company Inc. (SubicTel), a subsidiary of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., filed a case before the Regional Trial Court of Olongapo City to restrain the Globe’s unit from providing domestic and international tele-communications services in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

SubicTel claimed it has the option to renew its 10-year exclusivity privilege to provide state-of-the-art telecom facilities in the area but since the period has lapsed, the SBMA began entertaining other applicants.

However, the Olongapo trial court denied the case filed by the subsidiary of PLDT to stop Innove from operating in the area.

SubicTel has been operating in Subic initially as a joint venture with PLDT, SBMA and the US-based telecom firm AT&T. Later, SBMA and AT&T sold their equity to PLDT.
--Darwin G. Amojelar - Manila Times

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