PLDT, GLOBE To Reduce Interconnection Fees To P2.50 For Voice Calls By 2017

Leading telco and digital services provider PLDT has agreed to lower by as much as 40% its interconnection charges for voice calls to Globe Telecom mobile phones and fixed lines to further lower the cost of telecom services in the country.

The interconnection rate for voice calls between the telecommunication firms will be reduced to P2.50 per minute across-the-board starting January 1, 2017.

Currently, mobile to mobile and landline to mobile voice calls cost P4.00 per minute while mobile to landline voice calls cost P3.00 per minute.

“We are supporting government’s efforts to bring down the cost of telecom services in the country. This agreement will translate in different ways to more affordable voice call rates for our subscribers,” PLDT Director and Head of Regulatory Affairs and Policy Office Ray Espinosa said.

For his part, PLDT Chief Revenue Officer Eric Alberto stated that both telco companies are committed on ensuring the highest quality of connection for voice calls between the two networks even as they pursue efforts to reduce interconnection charges.

He noted that the PLDT Group has actually been bringing down voice call rates through bundled services, especially in its mobile services – Smart, Sun, and TNT.

“We were the first to introduce unlimited voice calls from the PLDT Group mobile networks to a PLDT landline and between any of the mobile services Smart, Sun, and TNT. This unlimited service resulted in much lower voice call charges among PLDT’s over 70 million subscribers,” Alberto said.

He added that improving voice services will provide customers more options to connect with their family and friends, at home or on the go.

The memorandum circular on interconnection charges for voice calls was signed a few days after President Rodrigo Duterte stated that he is willing to open the telco industry to foreign enterprises in order to provide affordable and quality services for consumers.

Source: Sunstar