3 foreign firms buy bid docs despite aspirant's case vs. selection process —DICT

At least three giant foreign telecommunications companies have already secured bid documents for the government's third telco initiative, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said Saturday.

DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said the big foreign firms' purchase of bid documents worth P1 million only shows confidence in the terms of reference for the selection of the new major player in the telecommunications industry despite an aspirant's complaint questioning its legality.

"Nakakatuwa na after mag-sampa ng kaso ang Now na nagsasabi na mahirap i-attain, money-making scheme ay tatlo na foreign firms po ang nadagdag," Rio said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

Now Telecom filed for an injunction before the Regional Trial Court of Manila seeking to remove certain provisions in the final terms of reference, namely the P700-million “Participation Security,” the P14- to P24-billion “Performance Security,” and the P10-million non-refundable “Appeal Fee.”  

On Friday, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 42 denied Now Telecom's plea to issue a temporary restraining order against the selection process for the third telco player. 

The three foreign telcos that so far bought bid documents are Norway's Telenor Group, China Telecommunications Corp., and Austria's Mobiltel Holding GMBH.

In total, eight telcos already purchased bid documents, including the five local players namely Dennis Uy-led Udenna Corp., Davao-based TierOne Communications with the Luis Chavit Singson Group of Companies, Europe’s Telenor Group, Now Telecom, Philippine Telegraph and Telephone, and a group that declined to be named.

Based on the DICT’s timeline, the final memorandum circular—published on September 21—took effect on October 6.

On October 8, Monday, prospective bidders bought bidding documents at the National Telecommunications Commission headquarters in Quezon City. The documents are available until November 7.

Interested investors who bought the documents have until October 22 to seek any clarification and the government has until November 22 to answer the queries.

The DICT is targeting to name the winning bidder sometime in December.

The government is using the highest committed level of service in selecting the third telco player based on three major criteria: national coverage, Internet speed, and capital expenditures. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News