Globe Telecom, BayanTel now 100% interconnected (Philippines)
Globe Telecom, Inc. has announced that it is now 100% interconnected with Bayan Telecommunications, Inc. (Bayantel) in all areas both companies serve in the Philippines.
According to the company, the commercial activation of local interconnection between Globelines, the wireline service of Globe Telecom and Bayantel took effect last Dec. 10. This means that Globelines and Bayantel subscribers within the province of Northern Samar and those within Western Samar can call each other locally without having to pay long-distance rates.
The company added that Globe Telecom and Bayantel have common operation areas in the National Capital Region and the provinces of Iloilo, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Negros Occidental, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon.
Globe Telecom stated that it had to do more interconnection agreements with rival phone firms as part of efforts to expand its network and reach more subscribers.
The National Telecommunications Commission mandates compulsory interconnection of authorized public telecommunications carriers under Republic Act 7925.
This aims to create a universally accessible and fully integrated nationwide telecommunications network to encourage more infrastructure investments from the private sector that would benefit the consumers.
BayanTel to seek partnership with VAS providers (Philippines)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: BayanTel is looking for a domestic value added service (VAS) providers rather than looking for a strategic investor to help out the loss-making telco. CEO of BayanTel Tunde Fafunwa reportedly said the new business plan is expected to shore up phone firm’s position in the broadband sector. ‘We are more focused on partnership with service providers. Together, we can come up with new products and services. A lot of things are happening in the market, particularly in the area of content and media. Cooperation and partnerships are definitely going to be more evident in the future,’ he added.
Earlier, BayanTel CEO said the company was open to a possible sale with another entity, be it foreign or local. There were unconfirmed talks that BayanTel could be the next target of Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT), which has acquired an indirect stake in Manila Electric Company, another Lopez-controlled firm, through a group affiliated to Manuel V Pangilinan, chairman of the country’s largest phone firm.
Benpres in no mood to sell majority stake in BayanTel (Philippines)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Benpres Holdings Corp has no plans to sell a majority stake in Bayan Telecommunications Inc (BayanTel), as it even concedes the 85%-owned business which is still considered a ‘non-core’ asset. Benpres Chief Financial Officer Dory Tirona, reportedly said that there are currently no talks taking place concerning a possible sale, although the firm is willing to consider any offers that are put before it. ‘Bayan[Tel] … may be up for sale if the price is right. We maintain that Bayan is a non-core business for Benpres, which we had earlier identified as part of our debt restructuring. But there are no ongoing new talks which we or any other entity has initiated,’ he further said.
