NTC eyes lower fees on telcos offering free Wi-Fi

The National Telecommunications Commission proposed zero spectrum users’ fees for telecom companies deploying free Wi-Fi services in poor municipalities and public areas.

A draft memorandum circular (MC) released by the NTC underscores the need to further reduce regulatory fees and ensure better competition and a level playing field to expand public access to fast and affordable Internet services.

“There is a need to further encourage the entry of more telecommunications and Internet service providers in underserved and unserved areas,” it said.

NTC Memorandum Circular No. 002-09-2021 clarifies the SUF rates applicable to radio frequency (RF) bands 2400 MHz to 2483.5 MHz, 5050 MHz to 5350MHz and 5470 MHz to 5850MHz to make the provision for broadband Internet access services more affordable.

The agency said the SUF rate should be zero for each indoor and outdoor base station for telcos offering free internet access service in public places in fourth, fifth and sixth-class municipalities as published by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

It said the SUF rate should be also zero in public places such as national and local government offices, public basic education institutions, state universities and colleges and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority technology institutions and public hospitals, health centers, rural health centers, public parks, plaza, libraries and barangay reading centers, airports and seaports, public transport terminals, among others.

The regulator said no SUF should be imposed on local government units intending to set up outdoor radio base stations within their respective areas of jurisdiction to provide free public Internet access service.

The NTC said the SUF rate for other base stations not covered under the circular and fixed radio stations should be P750.

“Outdoor radio base stations or fixed radio stations found interfering with indoor equipment and devices shall implement measures to avoid interference such as reduction in the transmitting power. If after instituting such measures the interference persists, the subject outdoor radio base station or fixed radio station shall immediately cease operation,” it said.