SMC plans to break telco duopoly in 2014

Despite of a few futile attempts by other companies in the past, Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corporation seems unfazed and tells Philippine Daily Inquirer that “there’s still room for a formidable third player” in the local telco industry.

SMC’s current COO adds that such endeavor is already in the company’s pipeline for quite some time already, but has been pushed to the back seat in favor of other acquisition opportunities.

san miguel

Following that statement, SMC has formally issued a letter to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) confirming the company’s plan of launching a mobile telecommunications business in 2014.

Ang clarifies though that their upcoming telco will conduct its business separately from Wi-Tribe which is currently being managed by Liberty Telecoms Holdings, Inc. Instead, Liberty will focus on restructuring the struggling mobile broadband provider in the hopes of bringing “stockholders’ equity from negative to positive.”

{Source, Via}

Ronnie Bulaong

This article was written by Ronnie Bulaong, a special features contributor and correspondent for YugaTech. Follow him on Twitter @turonbulaong.

https://www.yugatech.com

36 Comments

countrymouse says:

11 years ago

sounds good, sana nga maging maganda ang kalabasan nito at bababa ang rates sa pinas.
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Vern says:

11 years ago

I wonder kung ano mga magiging promo nila. Free beer included with every load? LOL
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IC DeaDPiPoL says:

11 years ago

Hope they can provide a stable, unlimited and affordable 3G/LTE connection (hopefully maging dataplan ng bayan)
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Hero Hernandez says:

11 years ago

Exciting.. soon we might see data more cheaper than voice! Hello VOiPs! Make like google and do fiber faster than smart and globe!
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abuzalzal says:

11 years ago

LOL

Asa pa kayo

Hangga’t may corruption walang kompetisyon.
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vince says:

11 years ago

liberty telecom and wi-tribe have a bad reputation. Sila ang nagpa-uso ng cap sa pinas. OK lang dumami ang players sa industry but not if mas pangit ang product nila

good luck nalang at ang reputation ninyo ay hindi ganoon kaganda based on how wi-tribe is doing.
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FabBoy says:

11 years ago

lol nakakatawa banat tungkol sa cap at unlimited data. business yan hindi charity institution. tutal naman nag mamarunong kayo, sana mag kunwari na din kayo na marunong sa economics. lol
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wew says:

11 years ago

sana di sila tulad ng ibang telos na mataas magpresyo hahaha
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kaghui says:

11 years ago

hahahaha… that will be the day… tingnan naten anong magagawa nila. BS lang yang sinasabi nilang kompetisyon, magkakakontsaba lang ang mga taenang mga malalaking corporasyon sa pinas. may araw rin kayong mga baboy!
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roiji says:

11 years ago

haha i knew Liberty Telecoms would do this… only a matter of time.. ahhahaha
looking forward to a third telco!
sana maganda ang promo nila.. unli call and text to all networks plus free data LOL
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Smokescreen says:

11 years ago

I’m actually skeptical about this. Parang oil companies lang siguro yan. Sila sila rin mag uusap to drive up prices so consumers have no choice but to subscribe to any telco.
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ariel says:

11 years ago

baka it will go the way of sun, maganda na sana yung sun noon and they seem to do fine dumami subscribers nila dahil sa mga promo nila and it hurts smart and globe, pero anyari? if i cant control and fight you im gonna buy you…hayun nabili ng smart ang sun hahaha ang ending? nawala ang mga unlicall at unlitext na promo ng sun dati, yeah meron pa naman unli call ngayon ang sun kaso its dictated upon by smart to their advantage hayy !
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Ervin says:

11 years ago

I wish that this will come out as a telco company that can compete in service quality and economy wise. Let’s hope for the best. ^_^
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tango says:

11 years ago

it will be a verizon or telstra partnership… i’m not sure yet… i just heard it from not so reliable source… thanks
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Mel says:

11 years ago

If the government wants true competition in the telco sector, they should mandate full number portability where you can keep your phone number even if you change networks. Many subscribers actually want to switch providers but are unwilling to do so because it would mean losing their current mobile number.
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Videos says:

11 years ago

I do hope it will not be bought out by another competitor.
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Reekee98 says:

11 years ago

Let’s see if they will last for more than 5 years or will just be bought by MVP. Based on my observation Telco company who survive in Philippines has their own backbone or land/sea cable scattered in the Region.
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Acid says:

10 years ago

BOUGHT? I doubt. eh personal archenemy ni Ramon Ang si MVP eh. Every industry MVP is going to, Ramon Ang is investing into it and competes with him.

PAL was in talks with MVP before Ramon Ang comes in, GMA was in talk with MVP before Ramon Ang closes the deal. Beltel was supposed to launch in 2012? but was delayed due to the purchase of Sun by MVP. hehe…
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