Smart, Sun subscribers grow in 2007
Darwin G. Amojelar
Manila Times
TWO leading mobile phone service providers on Wednesday reported net additions to their respective subscriber bases last year, boosted by cheaper call and short messaging system (SMS) rates.
Ma. Lourdes C. Rausa-Chan, Philippine Long Distance Tele-phone Co. (PLDT) corporate secretary, told the Philippine Stock Exchange that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Smart Communications Inc. has more than 30 million subscribers using its Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network at end-December.
In addition, Smart also has more than 1 million active Smart Money account holders and nearly 300,000 subscribers using Smart Bro, the wireless broadband service of its unit, Smart Broadband, Inc.
Last November, the company announced that it raised its capital expenditure to P10 billion in 2007 to finance network coverage expansion.
Separately, William Pamintuan, Digital Mobile Philippines Inc. senior vice-president for legal and inter-carrier services, reported to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that Sun Cellular’s subscribers reached more than 5.5 million as of December, higher by 2 million in 2006.
Pamintuan attributed the increase to the expansion of its network coverage and continued offering of cheap call and text plans.
Digitel has expanded its coverage to 87.78 percent last year, and expects to increase it to 91.14 percent by middle of this year.
Digitel is also seeking an approval from NTC to extend its nationwide cellular mobile telephone service license, which will lapse on February 7.
As of December, Digitel has covered 108 out of the country’s 119 cities or 90.76 percent and 62 out of the country’s 81 provinces or 76.54 percent for an average coverage of 83.65 percent or higher than the minimum required coverage the NTC set.
The NTC has required the company to cover at least 80 percent of all provincial capitals in the Philippines including chartered cities and to submit an amended roll out plan forecast for the next three years to approve a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN).
The Gokongwei-owned telecom company assured that once the license was approved it will continue to offer affordable call and text plans for its subscribers.
Digitel also assured the NTC to continue its commitment to offering convenient and affordable plans that will reflect the regulator’s policy to ensure that consumers are not deprived of wider choices and to encourage competitive and innovative offerings.
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