Fifth Estate

For one reason or another, the NTC is finding it very difficult to issue a ruling on the complaint of Smart and Globe (19 and 12.5 million subscribers respectively according to certain reports) against Sun (1.1 million subscribers). If I may suggest, the NTC should contact the DTI and ask them what they would do if Shoemart and Robinsons started complaining that Divisoria Mall is giving them unfair competetion.

The complaint alleges that Sun's 24/7 promo is "predatory pricing" and legally questionable since Sun didn't follow NTC's required procedure in implementing it. The NTC should not have even considered these issues since it clearly benefits the consuming public. The NTC, like all government agencies, should at least try to make the impression that their main concern is the welfare of the public.

The complainants also allege that, because of the success of the promo, Sun's infrastructure is being overwhelmed causing unacceptably poor, by NTC standards, service performance. Assuming there is some truth to this allegation, the subscriber should be the one who decides on what is acceptable or not.

Nowadays, one can switch from one provider to another for a minimal cost. There are, however, certain situations wherein switching providers might be difficult or expensive. In such cases, number portability would be a great benefit.

Number portability basically means being able to switch service providers while retaining your telephone number (including prefix). This system is already being implemented in the USA and several European countries.

# posted by KidPogi : 4:07 AM