Telecom interconnection of Bayantel and Digitel will be beneficial to Olongapo-Zambales

as Globe, Bayantel, Digitel link up networks In Zambales, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon

By EMMIE V. ABADILLA - mb.com.ph

Residents and business establishments in the provinces of Zambales, Sorsogon and Camarines Norte will now be able to make local calls within each province, following the commercial activation of interconnection with Globe Telecom by Bayan Telecommunications (Bayantel) and Digital Telecommunications Philippines (Digitel).

The local interconnection between Globe and Digitel in the province of Zambales began last July 30, while that of Globe and Bayantel covering Camarines Norte and Sorsogon took effect on August 2 and August 4, respectively. Prior to this, a Globe landline subscriber had to pay long-distance rates to call a Digitel landline subscriber from the same province, and vice-versa.

Recently, Globe inked similar telecommunication agreements with Digitel and Bayan Telecommunications for the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Albay, Camarines Sur and Cagayan. With the latest interconnection accords, Globelines and Bayantel have now interconnected more than 90% of their respective common areas of presence throughout the Philippines. On the other hand, Globelines and Digitel have interconnected more than 80% of their respective common areas of presence in the country.

“Phone subscribers within Zambales, Sorsogon, or Camarines Norte may now call each other locally by simply dialling a seven-digit phone number.

This will result in cost savings for thousands of phone subscribers,” said Atty. Froilan Castelo, Head of the Corporate and Legal Services Group of Globe, “This shows that even in the midst of tough competition in the telecommunications industry, some of us can work together for the public good.”

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) 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.