2 US-based satellite internet firms to launch PH operations —DICT

At least two US-based satellite internet service providers are in the final stages of application to launch their services in the Philippines, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said Wednesday.

At a press briefing in Quezon City, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda told reporters that the two American telecommunications firms are “under application with the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission).”

“Actually, one of them should finish [licensing] this month because its service is ready for launching,” Aguda said.

“The other one should be able to launch by the end of the year,” he said.

The DICT chief declined to identify the two US-based telcos, but said “they are both satellite [service providers].”

“They are big companies… and they are well-known,” Aguda said.

In September last year, the DICT said foreign telcos expressed interest in entering the country’s data transmission industry after the Konektadong Pinoy Bill lapsed into law.

The Konektadong Pinoy law allows new data transmission players to operate without a legislative franchise or Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. —LDF, GMA News