Non-telcos allowed to act as VoIP reseller, provider

i.t. matters
Monday April 03, 2006 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

News

By KERLYN G. BAUTISTA, Reporter

Non-telcos allowed to act as VoIP reseller, provider

Transpacific Broadcast Group International, Inc. (TBGI) and Cebu-based Technetworks Corp. became the first non-telecommunications companies to be allowed by the government to act as internet telephony reseller and provider, respectively.

Internet telephony or voice over internet protocol (VoIP) had been an exclusive territory of telecommunications companies like Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Globe Telecom, Inc.

In November 2005, however, NTC allowed internet service providers (ISPs) and value-added service providers (VAS) to offer VoIP, ending the long-drawn dispute on whether to open the industry to non-telcos.

Edgardo V. Cabarios, director of National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), said TBGI was allowed to operate as a VoIP reseller of dominant telco PLDT in Manila, Laguna, Angeles and parts of Cavite. Its clients should be limited to PLDT subscribers.

PARTNERS

TBGI and PLDT are partners in offering the i-Gate Mode internet service to Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

Already with a paid-up capital of P81 million, TBGI posted a performance bond worth P1 million with Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. to become a VoIP reseller.

Technetworks, meanwhile, was allowed to operate as a VoIP provider in Visayas and Mindanao using the infrastructure of the Telecommunications Office.

With an authorized capital of P200 million and paid-up capital of P12.375 million, Technetworks posted a performance bond worth P5 million with Plaridel Surety and Insurance Corp. to function as a VoIP provider.

VoIP providers are entities providing VoIP services to the public, directly or through resellers, for compensation.

VoIP resellers, on the other hand, are entities that source VoIP from a duly registered VoIP provider under an agreement to resell the service directly to retail customers.

VoIP service providers and resellers are required to post a performance bond in the amount of P5 million and P1 million, respectively, to guarantee the delivery of VoIP service to the public.

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