NTC orders telcos to explain SMS rates, data roaming fees

Flexing its regulatory muscle, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has ordered the country’s mobile operators to inform subscribers of their data roaming fees and to make an explanation for their non-compliance to reduce SMS rates despite the issuance of a memorandum circular lowering the interconnection charge among telcos.

In a new issuance, the NTC ordered local telcos to “make sure that subscribers/users are fully informed, through text alerts and voice calls or other means, of the rates and conditions of access to data roaming.”

The agency advised mobile phone users “especially those who will be spending the holidays abroad,” to ensure that they are aware of the rates and conditions of access to data roaming services.

The NTC pointed out that the rates for data roaming services are higher than the rates for in-country data services.

“Make sure that you know the procedure on how to opt in (turn on) to avail of data roaming services or opt out (turn off) to stop using the data roaming services. You are advised to coordinate with your service provider and get information on how to ensure that your devices are turned off or not connected to the Internet when not in use,” it said.

On the SMS rate issue, the NTC has issued a “show-cause order” to Smart, Globe, and Sun Cellular which mandates the telcos to explain in writing why they failed to lower their regular text rates by at least P0.20.

It will be recalled that the lowering of SMS interconnection rate between telcos took effect last November 30, 2011. The NTC explained that the text rate should have been lowered as a necessary consequence of the reduction of interconnection charge from P0.35 to P0.15.

The telcos were likewise ordered to preserve and submit all SMS data records of all subscribers charged P1.00 per SMS sent. The firms were also required to submit a weekly report to the NTC as to the total quantity of SMS charged P1.00 per SMS commencing from the aforementioned date.

Test conducted by the NTC’s One-Stop Public Assistance Center (OSPAC) showed that the operators have not complied with the directive.

In an affidavit executed by Froilan B. Jamias, head of OSPAC, it appeared that on various instances from December 05 to December 09 2011, OSPAC received various complaints through electronic mail and phone calls from several SMS subscribers stating that the three providers were still charging P1.00 for every text sent to another subscriber of a different telco.

Acting on the complaints, OSPAC conducted a series of tests by using prepaid mobile numbers from the three telco providers .

An SMS from each prepaid mobile number was sent to the other two providers, and it was established that all of those mobile numbers decreased in call/text credit by P1.00. — Newsbytes.ph