The National Telecommunications Commission extended the permit of Now Telecom Company Inc., a company led by businessman Mel Velarde, to operate and maintain telecommunication services.
Now Telecom was granted last week an extension of the authority to install, operate and maintain a state-of-the-art, efficient, effective and economical telecommunications network, including mobile telecommunications, data and voice telecom network, trunked radio dispatch communications system, digital trunked radio system and telecommunications operations.
The authority also includes the upgrade of the company’s existing system to a nationwide wireless communications network which will provide mobile telephony communications and multimedia transmission capability to all cities and municipalities nationwide.
Among many telecom products and services, special emphasis is focused on serving the broadband data transmission requirement for local government units and national government agencies.
“We have been providing guaranteed broadband to enterprises including the government sector. We reiterate our belief that at present, there is an insufficiency in telecommunications facilities that can effectively address the needs for day-to-day real-time operations and at the same time provide disaster mitigation during the time of emergencies,” Now Telecom president Rodolfo Pantoja said.
Now Telecom, a grantee of a 25-year congressional franchise by the 17th Congress, is also a holder of authority from NTC to establish and operate a nationwide cellular mobile telephony system.
The company is one of only four telcos in the Philippines that have CMTS license. The others are Smart Communications Inc., Globe Telecom and DITO Telecommunity Corp.
Now Telecom previously announced its plan to offer 5G wireless broadband for the delivery of gigabit speeds to homes and enterprises.
It signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Fiber Optic Cable Network Ltd., a subsidiary of Singapore-based Hyalroute Group for nationwide 5G deployment.
Pantoja said 5G would pave the way for the offering of more complex applications and solutions.
