Telecoms

Vodafone is coming to the Philippines?!

Abe Olandres February 12, 2012 · 2 min read

Listen to article

Sony unveils 1000X THE COLLEXION premium headphones, celebrates 10 years of 1000X series Google announces Android Halo feature Samsung and Google unveils AI-powered smart glasses JBL Celebrates 80 Years with New PartyBox Speakers, EasySing Karaoke Gear, Gaming Headsets, and more in PH Jollibee and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang collaborate on GameJoy campaign

A new telco is coming to town and its name is Vodafone. Arguably the largest telecoms company in the world (based on revenues) and the 2nd largest in terms of subscriber base, Vodafone Philippines has started putting up their accounts for the Philippines in preparation for the official launch.

Though this is not official yet, Vodafone’s Twitter and Facebook accounts have been set up to reflect their Philippine presence.

Vodafone is present in over 30 countries worldwide and with 40 other partnerships with other telcos. They have operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the United States. In the Philippines, Vodafone lists Smart as one of its partners (probably for roaming?).

Vodafone is into the fixed line services, mobile phone service, internet and digital TV. Will post more udpates once we get a confirmation.

Hat tip to @jonjongoco.

Update: It is possible this could be a partnership with San Miguel which already owns 75% of Eastern Telecoms, and also owns Liberty Telecom and Bell Telecom.

According to San Miguel’s website:

San Miguel’s fledgling telecommunications business has seen the addition of Bell Telecommunications Philippines, Inc., our second telecoms platform after Liberty Telecommunications Holdings, Inc. Bell Tel will give San Miguel entry into the wireless voice, data and video connectivity business, expanding the scope of the company’s telecom offerings. At present, Liberty has signed on an estimated 70,000 subscribers to its internet broadband and WiMAX services. In December 2010, San Miguel acquired a stake in Eastern Telecommunications Philippines, Inc.

It is possible the partnership with Vodafone will be focused on voice services with Vodafone as the official name carrier.

Note: I’d like to go back to my Top 10 predictions for 2012 and write off #7.

React to this article:

Mobile Network Providers Philippines Philippines Internet Providers Philippines Telecom News Telecom Market Trends Telecommunication Industry Philippines Vodafone Expansion Vodafone Global Presence Vodafone New Market vodafone philippines Vodafone Services

Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

7,992 Articles

View all posts by Abe Olandres →

140 Comments

Bryan · 14 years ago

Please anything just to get out of globe. they suck big time!

MsD · 14 years ago

hi, can you give me location of vodafone service center (Phils) i need to request to configure my unit (vodafone 555 blue)
thanks

Bob · 14 years ago

It’s Smart… http://smart.com.ph/corporate/newsroom/SmartMobileServicesVodafone.htm

nexusboy · 14 years ago

San Miguel Corp should just operate their new mobile network RIGHT NOW! i can’t wait any longer.. it’s just Smart and Globe these days, and these two craps are claiming they’re NUMBER ONE! what the heck!

Mel R. · 14 years ago

It could be that Vodafone is just opening a back-office/call center operation here, just like TELUS (Canada’s 2nd largest Telco) and not have any actual local operations in the PH.

Niknok · 14 years ago

Welcome to Vodafone!

We hope you’re here to kick some telco butts, provide better services, and not collude with the “competition”.

john · 14 years ago

Yup, this is as true as Maria Ozawa’s FB casting call! Yeah!!!! Lezgo!

Anonymouse coward · 14 years ago

i had infos from a very reliable grapevine – a team of corporate lawyers, they started documenting and registering and stuff since 2007. But it looks like its materializing soon. most probably next year because marketing research is not yet done.. oops.

Jason · 14 years ago

I think, they have been registered the 2 domains: vodafone.com.ph (registered by Vodafone Group Plc, ) and vodafone.ph (registered by Vodafone Group Services Limited).

SOURCE: http://kabayantech.com/2012/02/vodafone-philippines/

Jason · 14 years ago

They have their own YouTube account!
http://www.youtube.com/vodafonePhilippines

John · 14 years ago

only to beat those prevailing competitors is to lower your price, and that means you should be in lost for a year before gaining a profit. I hope Vodafone knows their stand.

nexusboy · 14 years ago

if its indeed Vodafone-San Miguel on CDMA network, we would be able to use Verizon and/or Sprint compatible smartphones like MOTOROLA DROID series, HTC EVO and the latest LTE devices being used in Japan’s NTT Docomo mobile network. this is so exciting!

nexusboy · 14 years ago

whatever mobile platform san miguel telco will operate in the country, Apple fanboys have nothing to worry about, because iPhone 4S is a world phone and will work in most, if not all mobile network in the world. :)

Jason · 14 years ago

Vodafone uses GSM, not CDMA. Kung CDMA yan, hindi tayo sanay sa walang SIM card. Parang instant noodles lang yung CDMA.

vince · 14 years ago

I welcome new players but san miguel? i hope walang cap like wi-tribe

pero let the market decide. malulugi sila if bad service just like liberty telecoms/wi-tribe

simplynice93 · 14 years ago

A new telco player is always a welcome development. Hopefully they give a better service than the others.

nexusboy · 14 years ago

i just wish San Miguel can launch their mobile network the soonest possible time. what could be the cause of delay? aint SMC supposed to have the new network operational by now?

MVP · 14 years ago

Vodaphone’s Philippine partner is Smart Communications

marc · 14 years ago

siguro its possible but it will be a tie up with smart for sure. mas mayaman ang smart with mvp, and his companies like mmc and pldt.

benchmark · 14 years ago

Well i just hope this would be one of the game changer here in telcom industry here in PH like SUN… (pero like what they comment, if you can’t beat them, buy them.)

Regardless they are international company or local, I hope they follow the laws and ofcourse provide good services to the people, lalo na yung mga nasa kaduluduluhan ng Pinas…hopefully they will not join the crap bandwagon of our telcos & net providers.

Augustus · 14 years ago

Uu, pero you can try Click Telco. They offer free click to click calls.

Juan · 14 years ago

We need more competition in the telecom industry.
Ang bagal ng development.
Ang taas ng rates, particularly the internet.
We are still being billed per minute kahit 10 seconds lang ang tawag…

a nonny mouse · 14 years ago

shape up or ship out, local telcos.

Brian · 14 years ago

It looks to be a tie-up with smart. http://www.vodafone.com/content/index/about/about_us/where.html

LG OPTIMUS · 14 years ago

info lang po,naka pag trabaho kasi ako sa vodafone australia (cell site telecom installation engineer)mas mura ang local telecoms natin compare sa vodafone (cairns australia) pano kaya maka ka compete si vodafone?wlang mga unli call and text sa vodafone,per Mb ang data charging. pero mas mabilis ang network kasi straight ericsson equipment sila,wait nlng natin si smart,ongoing ang upgrade nila from nokia/siemens to ericsson.

LG Promo Victim · 14 years ago

via the Liberty Telecoms/SMC franchise?

via the CURE/Red Mobile franchise that Smart let go off when it acquired Digitel?

How do you suppose Vodafone will get a franchise to operate in the phils?

nokia 5130 · 14 years ago

thank for share information and keep post.:D

frenchy · 14 years ago

Yes! Smart and Globe will finally be obliged to improve their services to catch up with the competition whether they like it or not. Yay!

Trojan mouse · 14 years ago

Hello po! Diba yung pldt at globe ay may foreign company rin na nagmamy-ari, globe-singtel, pldt-ntt docomo at first pacific. Diba papunta rin sa mga dayuhan yung pera natin.

manny c · 14 years ago

I think may isa pang partner si Globe si Deutsche Telekom (partner of Delgado family sa Islacom na inacquire ni Globe).
Lahat sila may foreign partners sana yun bagong player hindi magulang sa service.

Chorvaqueen · 14 years ago

There’s no real competition unless this country gets rid of that crappy 60/40 economic provision.

ronpaul2012 · 14 years ago

Don’t get too excited over such news guys. Instead be updated with the current fuzz of global economic status. You’d be surprised for the biggest financial melt down ever that’s about to happen.

budflick · 14 years ago

Search WHOIS Records
WHOIS Info for vodafone.ph

Domain Name: VODAFONE.PH
Expires on : July 14, 2012

Registrant:
Vodafone Group Services Limited
Vodafone House
The Connection
Newbury
Berkshire
United Kingdom
ravi.mohindra@…

mageexpire na sa july 14 2012?

Maybe its true but it didnt push well- and they are reviving the project.

rex1213 · 14 years ago

And here is another one for vodafone.com.ph

WHOIS Info for vodafone.com.ph
Domain Name: VODAFONE.COM.PH
Expires on : July 30, 2014

Registrant:
Vodafone Group Plc
Vodafone House, The Connection
Newsbury
Berkshire
United Kingdom
domain.names@…
corporate-services@…

Domain servers in listed order:
ns1.dc-ratingen.de
ns2.dc-ratingen.de

rex1213 · 14 years ago

And here is another one for vodafone.com.ph

WHOIS Info for vodafone.com.ph
Domain Name: VODAFONE.COM.PH
Expires on : July 30, 2014

Registrant:
Vodafone Group Plc
Vodafone House, The Connection
Newsbury
Berkshire
United Kingdom
domain.names@…
corporate-services@…

Domain servers in listed order:
ns1.dc-ratingen.de
ns2.dc-ratingen.de

Until 2014 sya for this domain.

nexusboy · 14 years ago

this could turn out to be a hoax.

Jick · 14 years ago

Here’s hoping that this would increase competitiveness among telcos.

Also, I hope voda would implement strict standards here in the Phils, foreign company + filipino EXECs = same stupid, greedy, and corrupt company.

Though, I might not subscribe to voda as I wouldn’t want a large percentage of my money to go to foreigners.

Chorvaqueen · 14 years ago

Eh, I rather not give my money to local corporations that offer shitty services.

Obezyana · 14 years ago

I’d like you say that again if the US passes the bill to limit their BPO industry to foreign countries including the Philippines.

What if they also don’t want *foreign* labor?

budflick · 14 years ago

its possible that this is true, On second thought, theres also a chance that this is a fabricated topic. as we all well know Voda is a premiere network, and they dont do “teasers” to an unfinished product.

rex1213 · 14 years ago

And the thing is, when you enter: http://vodafone.ph , it will take you to a page saying “Future website of vodafone.ph” instead of saying “vodafone.ph is still available” by the official domain name registry of the Philippines as with the case of sites with a .ph domain name na hindi pa taken or wala pang nagmamay-ari.

Hmmmmmm… Parang they are coming soon nga!

Manong Iskrambol · 14 years ago

what I am seeing here is the competition over data plans, voice call, video call, even mms.. new phones are trending in this area… unlimited data plan in a cheaper price hahaha.. the best sana mangarap tayo..

Noynoy Abnoynoy · 14 years ago

sana matapos na ang paghihirap natin sa smart,globe at sun. napawalang kwenta kasi ng kanilang serbisyo sa atin. sana mamatay na sila PANGILINAN at AYALA.

mponce · 14 years ago

Hello cheaper rates. :)

dj0502 · 14 years ago

This is great. I doubt if this will push prices down (though budget rates would always stay), as that fight lead to the lost of Sun Cellular but I do hope the services get better. 3G in the Philippines is a joke.

nexusboy · 14 years ago

i wonder if Vodafone will enter the Philippines as a stand alone company? or will it partner with San Miguel – Qtel – Liberty Telecoms?

memedroid · 14 years ago

It will definitely has partner here locally, unless the 1987 constitution will be ammended.

Cliff Rosario · 14 years ago

This seems to be true.

a San Miguel/Qtel/Liberty telecoms(wi-tribe) venture.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/01/19/11/san-miguels-liberty-telecom-searching-new-head

peter · 14 years ago

yes ..ito nga siguro ang strategy ni san miguel kasi napakabagal ng deployment nila ng kanilang wimax basestation up to now hindi pa cover ang ncr mahina parin ang signal nila..partner na yan ng quatar telecoms , Ngayon baka sa pagpasok ni vodafone mas bumilis yung pag put up nila ng kanilang network..Ang tanong ano aang gagamitin nilang technology or itutoloy nila ang wimax existing ng liberty telecoms/witribe or LTE technology na..Magandang abangan yan!!

Pepe · 14 years ago

Unlike other countries, if they want to succeed in the business here, they will have to get as many users as possible. Even if they provide excellent service, if they don’t get enough people, it won’t work simply because of the cross network charges that other telcos still charge.

Cellphone networks are like social networks in this country. You will often text/call people in the same network, so the more people you have in one network, the more others will be convinced to join that network

nexusboy · 14 years ago

Vodafone pala owns Verizon Wireless (USA) which is a CDMA network. its starting to make sense, i remember San Miguel wanted to put up a mobile network in CDMA technology, so I guess this is it?

kalabaw · 14 years ago

About fucking time a foreign player steps in, tagal nako naghihiling ng ganitong pangyayari. In your face, smart and globe monopoly.

budflick · 14 years ago

I prefer if its a stand alone network, not just some crappy “powered by/in partner with” Voda network.

Much better if o2 will set up a network here too. I have o2 3G irish sims and UK o2 sims that expired AFTER four years due to not loading it, just last month.

And they give away FREE sim cards with free credit. you dont have to pay 40pesos just to try their service.

kim · 14 years ago

Finally…babagsak na ang mga gahamang telcos natin… Over mag charge nang txt/call..3g napakahina…freephones? napakamahal..hahai..Ito ang tunay na competitor..magsama2x na kayu smart/globe.. hahaha..babagsak din kayu..lols

Fleeb · 14 years ago

Paano naging mahal yung text? 3-5 pesos yun sa ibang bansa.

jhepoyskee · 14 years ago

i think we should not compare rates here and other countries because it would be biased because of our currency.

Iyan Sommerset · 14 years ago

The only good thing I hope that will come from this is that Globe and Smart will lower rates even more to remain competitive. I don’t really like patronizing non-homegrown companies/corporations over local ones. Money going out of the Philippine economy into (in this case) the U.K. one. As if they need it.

Chorvaqueen · 14 years ago

That’s really a destructive thinking you got there. So you’re pretty much saying you prefer local brands regardless if they are shitty?

Obezyana · 14 years ago

So they are setting up shop here possibly creating a lot of jobs in you OWN country and you don’t want that?

How about the BPO industry? They’re all foreign-owned. Would you rather make them leave than keep the people’s jobs in the country?

LG Promo Victim · 14 years ago

How do you suppose Vodafone will get a franchise to operate in the phils?

via the CURE/Red Mobile franchise that Smart let go off when it acquired Digitel?

via the Liberty Telecoms/SMC franchise?

LG Promo Victim · 14 years ago

then dont avail of the services of Smart and Globe

Smart is partly owned by NTT Docomo (japan)
Globe is partly owned by Singtel (singapore)

Iyan Sommerset · 14 years ago

Actually, BPOs do the opposite thing: They pump in money from their subscribers (in other countries) into the local economy.

And as for preference, if they’re all crappy, I’d prefer a local crappy company than a foreign one. If you look around, you’ll see pretty much the same complaints about Vodafone’s services as any other telco. (Well, I don’t know if it gets that bad here, but I came across a woman being billed $1900 for roaming charges even though she applied for a capped service.)