NTC extends PLDT permit to run PHL terminal of submarine cable system

The National Telecommunications Commission has given Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) 13 more years to operate and maintain a terminal of the Asia-America Gateway (AAG), a $550-million submarine cable system that connects Southeast Asia and the US.

 

The NTC granted PLDT a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) to run the AAG Philippine Terminal Station La Union until the telecommunications firm's franchise expires in November 2028.

 

The permit replaces provisional authority that the NTC granted in 2007 that would have expired in June 2009, but that the commission extended until June 2015.

 

PLDT asked NTC in September last year to make the provisional authority permanent to assure the 19-member AAG Consortium of the continued operation of the AAG submarine cable project.

 

AAG is made up of Segment 1 (Malaysia-Singapore-Thailand-Brunei-Vietnam-Hong Kong), Segment 2 (Philippines-Hong Kong), Segment 3 (Philippine-Guam), and Segment 5 (Hawaii-San Luis Obispo). — JDS, GMA News