From Manila Bulletin
October 19, 2015
Sen Chiz Escudero urged the NTC to start cracking the whip so that the telco, especially the giant one in order to solve the very slow and expensive internet in the Philippines. The giant has refused to connect to the PHOpenX established by DOST. It has currently 33 members which include Globe, Eastern Telecom, Bayantel, Com Clark
Its data is currently routed to Hong Kong Internet Exchange (HKIX) through a privately owned Vitro Internet Exchange. (VIX) According to the good senator, a telco that does that holds our country as a hostage. An a regulatory body that cant enforce its mandate is inept.!
Why cant NTC force the issue?
1. It is toothless?
2. Does it not have legal mandate?
3. Does it lack leadership?
NTC it is time to be pro people and do your job. This is a govt of men.
4. Do the leaders care for the consumers/netizens? Is NTC aware of its duty to do so?
Eh bakit may budget para bumili ng fiber optics? Kasama ba sa mandate ng NTC ito. The law says it is a regulator It should encourage private sector do this our outsource the function of fiber optic infrastructure
Let us review Rep. Act 7925 or Public Telecommunications act, Section 5
The principal administrator of this Act shall be National Telecommunications (Commission) whose duties are:
1. Adopt administrative process which will ensure the entry of telecom entities and ensure pricing that will give them good returns;
2. Ensure safety quality reliability compatibility and inter-operability of communication facilities in accordance with international standards;
3. Mandate a fair and reasonable interconnection facilities of authorized public network operators and other providers of communication facilities...
4. Foster fair and efficient market conduct
5. Promote consumer welfare by facilitating access to telecommunications services whose infrastructure and network must be geared towards individual and business users;
6. Protect consumers against misuse of telecommunication entity monopoly or quasi monopolistic powers by but not limited to the investigation of complaints, and exacting compliance with service standards with such entity.
What can NTC do with the slow internet speed as expounded by the good senator:
1. Force the peering between and among telcos, and force the dominant telco to interconnect (with 0 revenue as in true peering under 3:
3. Mandate a fair and reasonable interconnection facilities of authorized public network operators and other providers of communication facilities...
2. Level up internet speed up to global standards and not business as usual to be l50th in the world or 21/22 in Asia under #5:
Promote consumer welfare by facilitating access to telecommunications services whose infrastructure and network must be geared towards individual and business users;
3. Slay, topple the giant that:
1. Refuses to interconnect with PHopenx
2. That routes its data to foreign IX that makes internet expensive and slow under 6 So dear netizens, if we complain NTC, they have no choice to act under #6 of its mandate:
Protect consumers against misuse of telecommunication entity monopoly or quasi monopolistic powers by but not limited to the investigation of complaints, and exacting compliance with service standards with such entity.
Sen Bam Aquino says we must enact new laws. But the old law, RA 7925 is broad enough to give NTC enough latitude to show its fangs and claw to protect the consumers as its mandate says
Full text of Section 5 of RA 7925
ARTICLE III. ADMINISTRATION SEC. 5. Responsibilities of the National Telecommunications Commission. - The National Telecommunications Commission (Commission) shall be the principal administrator of this Act and as such shall take the necessary measures to implement the policies and objectives set forth in this Act. Accordingly, in addition to its existing functions, the Commission shall be responsible for the following:
a) Adopt an administrative process which would facilitate the entry of qualified service providers and adopt a pricing policy which would generate sufficient returns to encourage them to provide basic telecommunications services in unserved and underserved areas;
b) Ensure quality, safety, reliability, security, compatibility and inter-operability of telecommunications facilities and services in conformity with standards and specifications set by international radio and telecommunications organizations to which the Philippines is a signatory;
c) Mandate a fair and reasonable interconnection of facilities of authorized public network operators and other providers of telecommunications services through appropriate modalities of interconnection and at a reasonable and fair level of charges which make provision for the cross subsidy to unprofitable local exchange service areas so as to promote telephone density and provide the most extensive access to basic telecommunications services available at affordable rates to the public;
d) Foster fair and efficient market conduct through, but not limited to, the protection of telecommunications entities from unfair trade practices of other carriers;
e) Promote consumers welfare by facilitating access to telecommunications services whose infrastructure and network must be geared towards the needs of individual and business users;
f) Protect consumers against misuse of telecommunications entity's monopoly or quasimonopolistic powers by but not limited to the investigation of complaints and exacting compliance with service standards from such entity; and
g) In the exercise of its regulatory powers, continue to impose such fees and charges as may be necessary to cover reasonable costs and expenses for the regulation and supervision of the operations of telecommunications entities.
3. Slay, topple the giant that:
1. Refuses to interconnect with PHopenx
2. That routes its data to foreign IX that makes internet expensive and slow under 6 So dear netizens, if we complain NTC, they have no choice to act under #6 of its mandate:
Protect consumers against misuse of telecommunication entity monopoly or quasi monopolistic powers by but not limited to the investigation of complaints, and exacting compliance with service standards with such entity.
Sen Bam Aquino says we must enact new laws. But the old law, RA 7925 is broad enough to give NTC enough latitude to show its fangs and claw to protect the consumers as its mandate says
Full text of Section 5 of RA 7925
ARTICLE III. ADMINISTRATION SEC. 5. Responsibilities of the National Telecommunications Commission. - The National Telecommunications Commission (Commission) shall be the principal administrator of this Act and as such shall take the necessary measures to implement the policies and objectives set forth in this Act. Accordingly, in addition to its existing functions, the Commission shall be responsible for the following:
a) Adopt an administrative process which would facilitate the entry of qualified service providers and adopt a pricing policy which would generate sufficient returns to encourage them to provide basic telecommunications services in unserved and underserved areas;
b) Ensure quality, safety, reliability, security, compatibility and inter-operability of telecommunications facilities and services in conformity with standards and specifications set by international radio and telecommunications organizations to which the Philippines is a signatory;
c) Mandate a fair and reasonable interconnection of facilities of authorized public network operators and other providers of telecommunications services through appropriate modalities of interconnection and at a reasonable and fair level of charges which make provision for the cross subsidy to unprofitable local exchange service areas so as to promote telephone density and provide the most extensive access to basic telecommunications services available at affordable rates to the public;
d) Foster fair and efficient market conduct through, but not limited to, the protection of telecommunications entities from unfair trade practices of other carriers;
e) Promote consumers welfare by facilitating access to telecommunications services whose infrastructure and network must be geared towards the needs of individual and business users;
f) Protect consumers against misuse of telecommunications entity's monopoly or quasimonopolistic powers by but not limited to the investigation of complaints and exacting compliance with service standards from such entity; and
g) In the exercise of its regulatory powers, continue to impose such fees and charges as may be necessary to cover reasonable costs and expenses for the regulation and supervision of the operations of telecommunications entities.
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When consumers complain vs monopolistic or quasi monopolistic activities, of giant telcos, NTC has no choice except to follow its mandate?
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