PLDT blocks web calls from Globe

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) has temporarily blocked calls from Globe Telecom Inc.’s webphone service, sparking a fresh interconnection row with PLDT accusing Globe’s wireline unit Innove Communications Inc. of depriving it of revenues from access charges. PLDT, in a statement, said it found out that international calls through Innove’s GlobeQUEST webphone were routed to the PLDT network, without an interconnection agreement. Globe’s legal counsel Froilan Castelo, however, said it was Globe that "voluntary stopped" the calls, contrary to the claim made by PLDT. "We already stopped it some three months ago. And it was not our fault, the webphone service was intended for domestic calls only, but some of the card holders brought the cards abroad," Mr. Castelo said. PLDT described the practice as "illegal uncompensated bypass" which has deprived the company of the required access charges. Officials of both companies said talks have begun to settle the dispute. By definition, interconnection refers to the linkage, by wire, radio, satellite or other means, of two or more existing carriers with one another to enable subscribers of one operator to reach the subscribers of the other carriers. Without an interconnection arrangement, the routing of calls from GlobeQUEST to the local subscribers of PLDT is tantamount to a bypass, PLDT said. -Maricel E. Estavillo/BusinessWorld