Perspective on the past, present and future of the NTC:
THE MOST PRESSING INDUSTRY CONCERNS
Development of more applications or content to make use of the infrastructure, either existing or planned. "The industry's considerable capacity is not being utilized, notwithstanding the approximately 12 million mobile users for voice and SMS (popularly known as texting), which are basically what subscribers use their phones for. Since most content and applicatin providers are from abroad, we must come out with local counterparts. Therefore, the industry's challenge is how to develop more local content and 'killer apps, such as distance learning and other online courses, that would profoundly energize the industry and maximize its use to our advantage'."
More than 3.2 million unsubscribed lines. "Installed as part of the Service area Scheme (SAS) in pursuit of the mandate of Executive Order 109 and Republic Act 7925, the Scheme brought about an unprecedented increase in fixed telephone lines improving the country'e teledensity. It also liberalized the sector, broke the monopoly, and bolstered the country's economy. However, today's telecom companies are racking up millions in revenue losses because of idle facilities; they are also saddled with foreign debts that heve ballooned to damaging proportions due to the further depreciation of the peso against the dollar. We must also keep in mind that should these lines remain unsubscribed for a longer period of time, the infrastructure will fall into disrepair, killing all prospects for our telecom companies to regain their capital back."
THE NTC'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YEAR
The pursuit and implementation of regulatory provisions that support and sustain the industry's competitive edge. "This has also resulted in promoting investments, a level playing field, minimized delays and bureaucratic barriers, and a good performance of our economy. The telecommunications industry helped buoy up our dropping economy."
Participation in our major global events: "The Philippines contributed to the work of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), by being Chairman of a Group of Council (ITU's governing body), open to the 189 ITU State Members to draw the DRAFT ITU
STRATEGIC PLAN, 2003-2007 for submission to Council and the 2002 Plenipotentiary Conference to be held in Marrakesh, Morocco this 23 September to 17 October 2002. The Philippines was also a Member of ITU Council's Troika comprised of the Philippines, Russia, and the United States of America.
Our participations in these international fora is primal to the continued success of our local telecommunications, especially in an environment where global telecommunications undergo fast-paced changes equal to the speed of developing technologies.
FUTURE OBJECTIVES
Greater accessibility and price affordability by consumers/users ensuring the industry's growth sustainability and global competitiveness.
The creation of a system that protects the interests of the industry and the welfare of the consumer.
Setting guidelines and providing incentives to public telecom entities to cover unserves municipalities and barangays with public calling centers and telecenters which will utilize the unsubscribed lines.
The creation of a framework that shall promote the sustained growth of Information Communications Technology in the Philippines.
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