Telcos welcomed the latest move of regulators to extend the validity of all existing licenses till the end of this year as a positive development to help them improve services.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) this week extended the validity of all existing telecom and broadcast permits, certificates and licenses until the last working day of December, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“All existing permits, certificates and licenses, to operate radio communications equipment, networks and facilities, public (telecom), broadcast, government or private, in various radio services, expiring in the current year shall remain valid and may be renewed on or before the last working day of December 2020 without penalties or surcharges,” the NTC said in its Memorandum Order Number 14-07-2020 issued on July 29.
The NTC cited mobility issues, particularly in areas under enhanced or general community quarantine, as the reason for the extension.
“Due to expediency reasons and as there are still mobility limitation issues in many regions around the country, Public Telecommunications Entities may file/submit applications for renewal of permits and/or licenses at the NTC Central Office,” according to the commission.
"We appreciate this assistance provided by Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba and the NTC in dealing with these difficulties created by the pandemic," remarked PLDT Chief Revenue Officer and Smart President Al Panlilio.
"Hand-in-hand with the government, we will be able to surmount the challenges presented by COVID-19 and continue improving communications services for Filipinos nationwide," he added.
PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), through its Legal and Regulatory team, worked with the NTC to ensure that Philippine operators have enough time to secure their renewals amid the pandemic.