Globe Telecom Inc. is backing a bill that aims to reduce to zero the spectrum user fees (SUF) paid by telecoms firms to the national government, saying such a move will allow telcos to spend essential resources to much-needed network builds instead of paying expensive fees.

House Bill 9851, or the “Zero Spectrum User Fee for Telcos Using Wi-Fi Act” was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate last September 22. It mandates the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Telecommunications Commission not to collect fees from telcos for the use of Wifi or wireless data networks.

“We have been actively pursuing the lowering of spectrum user fees with the NTC and Congress, since we believe that telecommunications is now an essential service that should be made more affordable for users,” said Froilan Castelo, Globe general counsel.

The proposed measure is expected to help “promote the acceleration of internet use in the country and the expansion of WiFi technology and infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas.”

Globe said “SUFs are set too high in combination with taxes, regulatory fees and other charges on public telecommunications entities (PTEs), negatively impacting on economic growth and impeding digital transformation.

“When spectrum prices are set too high, operators are likely to invest less in their networks — which impacts the quality, affordability, and reach of services,” Castelo said.

While mobile service operators incur massive and sustained capital outlay for telecommunications infrastructure and pay costly spectrum fees, revenues per MHz of spectrum is declining.

The post Pabigat! Ayalas push for removal of Wifi spectrum user fees first appeared on Bilyonaryo Business News.



Pabigat! Ayalas push for removal of Wifi spectrum user fees
Source: Filipino Daily Inquirer