Listed firm NOW Corp., through unit NOW Telecom Company Inc. (Nowtel), plans to operate as the fourth mobile telecom services provider in the country in the next two to three years.
Mel Velarde, NOW Group chairman, said in a recent press briefing Nowtel will launch mobile services in the country two to three years from now, once the legal issue over its mobile frequency is settled.
The company has filed a mandamus case before the Court of Appeals to order the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to issue the frequency for Nowtel, said Velarde.
Velarde added Nowtel has a cellular mobile telephone system (CMTS) license similar to the three mobile telecom operators, Smart Communications Inc., Globe Telecom Inc. and Dito Telecommunity Corp. It was one of the three holders of a CMTS provisional authority alongside Smart and Globe prior to the new major player bidding in 2018.
Last week, NOW said it is acquiring up to 100 percent equity ownership in News and Entertainment Network Corp. (Newsnet), an interactive pay television and multimedia services firm, to upgrade its fiber air services to the fifth generation (5G) technology using the 26 gigahertz (Ghz) frequency. – Myla Iglesias
