Globe Telecom completes interconnection with Bayantel

GLOBE TELECOM, Inc. said yesterday that it is now 100% interconnected with Bayan Telecommunications, Inc. (Bayantel) in all areas both companies serve in the Philippines.
This was announced following the opening of local interconnection between the two companies for the provinces of Northern Samar and Western Samar.
In a statement released yesterday, Globe Telecom said the commercial activation of local interconnection between Globelines, the wireline service of Globe Telecom and Bayantel took effect last Dec. 10.
“This means that Globelines and Bayantel subscribers within the province of Northern Samar and those within Western Samar can call each other locally without having to pay long-distance rates,” the firm said.
“Globe Telecom and Bayantel have common operation areas in the National Capital Region and the provinces of Iloilo, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Negros Occidental, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon,” it added.
Melvin Santos, head for national carrier relations of Globe Telecom, said in the same statement that interconnection is a positive sign “that even industry competitors can work together to serve public interest.”
“We are happy to have achieved full interconnection with another telecommunications company for the good of residents and businesses in these provinces,” he said.
Globe Telecom said it had to do more interconnection agreements with rival phone firms as part of efforts to expand its network and reach more subscribers.
The National Telecommunications Commission mandates compulsory interconnection of authorized public telecommunications carriers under Republic Act 7925.
This aims to create a universally accessible and fully integrated nationwide telecommunications network to encourage more infrastructure investments from the private sector that would benefit the consumers.
Article via  BusinessWorld Online