Villar-led Streamtech no longer joining third telco race

Villar-led Streamtech Systems Technologies Inc. announced it will no longer push through with its intent to bid for the third major telecommunications player in the country.

In a statement released by Prime Asset Ventures Inc., Streamtech's parent company, it said it will rather focus on its internal expansion.

"After extensive discussions by management, Streamtech have decided not to proceed with the current bidding for the third telco and focus on our internal expansion programs and strategies," the statement read.

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio, Jr. earlier this month confirmed that Streamtech expressed interest to bid, but it would have to look for a foreign partner.

President Rodrigo Duterte on October 18 also signed a law granting Streamtech Systems a franchise to operate and maintain a telecommunication system in the country for 25 years.

At least 10 companies have bought selection documents from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)—AMA Telecommunications, China Telecom, Converge ICT, LCS Group of Companies and TierOne, Mobitel Holdings GmbH,  Now Telecom, Philippine Telegraph and Telephone,  Telenor ASA Group, Udenna Corp., and an undisclosed bidder.

The bidding proper is scheduled on Wednesday, November 7, but Rio clarified that the winning bidder to be announced then will be just provisional.

This comes as the winner to be named on the said date will still undergo a post-qualification process where the DICT and the National Telecommunications Commission will have to verify their documents.

In a separate statement, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said that the government is prepared for the transparent selection of the new major telecommunications player.

"In fact, we are holding our third mock bidding today to ensure that our Selection Committee, Technical Working Group and Secretariat are prepared to receive and process the selection documents," Cordoba said in a press release.

Cordoba said police as well as bomb-sniffing dogs will be deployed to maintain peace and order during the selection process. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas with a report by Anna Felicia Bajo/KG/BM, GMA News