3rd telco can use 3G frequencies to deliver text, call services —DICT

Despite the unavailability of 2G frequencies to be utilized by an upcoming third major telecommunications player, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said the third telco can still deliver traditional calls and texts services using 3G frequencies.

"Hindi 'yan hindrance sa third player dahil makakapagbigay pa rin sila ng talk and text services," Eliseo Rio, acting secretary of the DICT, said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday.

The DICT acting chief made the clarification after he made a statement that 2G frequencies would not be available to the third telecommunications player once it enters the industry. 

Rio explained that 3G frequencies, which supports mobile internet connectivity, can still be used for texting and calling using 3G and 4G capable cellular phones or smartphones.

"Ito po 'yung 2G  nag-umpisa ang mga cellphone natin ay sa 2G. Ang serbisyo ng 2G ay just talk and text, hindi ka makapasok sa internet. Itong 2G frequencies ang may pag-aari na ngayon ay Globe and Smart... lahat po ay nabili na ng Globe and Smart," he said.

"Ibig sabihin, ang mga lumang handset ang kapabilidad lang ay 2G o talk and text, wala ng iba... hindi pwedeng gamitin sa third player dahil wala na hong 2G pero pwede pa ring mag text and talk ang 3G...itong mga 3G telephone lang ho ang pwedeng gamitin," he added.

The DICT acting chief said that offering calls and texts services won't be a problem for the third telco even as 2G frequencies are no longer available because smartphones are much affordable.

"At wala na pong 2G phones, nawawala na ho sa merkado ito... In fact sa Singapore, hindi na magagamit itong 2G phones dahil phase out na po ito," Rio said.

"Ang nagagawa ng 2G ay magagawa rin sa 3G kaya lang ang handset ay kailangan palitan sa mas bagong modelo... itong mga bagong modelo ay mas mura naman na ngayon. Bakit pa sila pupunta sa 2G phones?" he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte wants a third telecommunications player in the country as he is dissatisfied with the services of current firms and that he aims to break the longstanding "duopoly" in the industry. — Ted Cordero/MDM, GMA News