Telcos ‘gravely concerned’ over NTC sanctions vs firms

MANILA, Philippines — Several of the country’s largest telecommunications companies have rallied behind the three mobile network operators slapped with P100,000 daily fines over “poor” mobile broadband service, raising concerns over how the government imposed the penalties.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunication Operators (PCTO) expressed “grave concern” over the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) sanctions against Smart Communications Inc., Globe Telecom Inc. and DITO Telecommunity Corp. for weak or no mobile broadband signal in Metro Manila.

While saying it supports better service for Filipinos, PCTO said the NTC action “raises serious due process concerns,” particularly because the fines were imposed before the operators were notified and given an opportunity to respond.

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The NTC had said the P100,000 daily fines would take effect on Sept. 25 and continue until the operators address the service deficiencies identified by the regulator.

It earlier said its September revalidation found that previously recorded poor mobile broadband signals remained substantially unchanged despite giving operators an opportunity to undertake corrective measures.

All three telcos, however, said they received their respective show-cause orders only on Sept. 28.

“While the law authorizes the NTC to investigate and undertake specified regulatory/compliance measures without previous hearing, it does not constitute a general exemption from administrative due process or a blanket authority to impose punitive penalties without notice and opportunity to be heard,” PCTO said.

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It also questioned the technical basis for the penalties, saying the NTC had not sufficiently disclosed the methodologies, metrics, parameters and testing conditions it used to determine noncompliance.

“Without this information, operators cannot properly verify or contest the results,” PCTO said. /cb