MANILA — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has crafted measures that would make calls and text messaging more affordable.
In a statement, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said the NTC has come up with a memorandum circular lowering interconnection rates for mobile voice calls, from PHP2.50 to PHP0.50, and for short messaging services (SMS), from PHP0.15 to PHP0.05, that telecommunication companies impose on subscribers.
This will be subject to a public consultation on June 13, 2018.
The said memorandum is in compliance with DICT Department Order No. 2018-02 released last May 11 which directs the NTC to formulate measures that would ensure lower interconnection rates for both mobile voice and SMS offered by telcos.
Mobile voice and SMS rates in the Philippines are among the highest in Asia, the DICT said.
The interconnection rate is a fee charged by a telco to its subscribers whenever they call and text another person from a different operator. (Aerol John Pateña/PNA)