A rumor is going around Facebook saying President-elect Rody Duterte declared that he will allow Telstra's re-entry in the market. I traced the source of the "news" and ended up disappointed. Because it appears to be just a figment of someone's imagination.
In 2014, the Philippines was dubbed as the Social Media Capital of The World. According to a study, Filipinos spend 53 hours on social media per week. That is 11 hours of socializing more than the 42-hour average globally. And yet we are far behind in terms of internet speed, not just within South East Asia (no. 21 out of 22 countries) but the whole world (no. 176 out of 22 nations). But hope rose in 2015 when news came that Telstra, Australia's number one internet provider, is planning on investing in the Philippines. However, the party ended before it even started. Last March 2016, it was announced that supposed joint venture of Telstra and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) will no longer push through, that the former is pulling out of the internet war. What adds salt to the wound is the fact that SMC has decided to sell their telco assets to Globe and PLDT. This saddened netizens, expressing their concerns with the seeming duopoly of Internet Service Providers in the country and the evidently poor service.
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| Trending News Portal wrote about Duterte's supposed announcement. |
That is why when people heard that President-elect Duterte stated that he is willing to give Telstra a chance to provide internet service in the Philippines, everyone rejoiced! Crediting this great news to the president. But sadly, this is not true. Telstra is not coming back. According to the Trending News Portal, the president mentioned it last May 31, 2016 in a video. But there is no video. Nada.
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| Screenshot of supposed video as posted by Trending News Portal. |
The screenshot above shows Trending News Portal directing readers to watch the news from what appears to be a CNN video. But you won't be able to watch the video because it's actually an ad that will redirect you to another page. Yes. Just a classic click and bait. In conclusion, even if we are desperate to change our internet provider, we might still have to endure the slow connection. Hopefully with President Duterte leading the country, there will be big changes, forcing Globe and PLDT to improve and be truthful with their services.
What you wrote is true, unfortunately. I was one of the many who followed the moves in the telco industry, including the entry of Australian firm, Telstra. But yes, that company has already backed out of the partnership deal w/ San Mig. It was in the major papers then. What was also in the papers was the reported sale of Veco, the telco arm of SMC, lock-stock-and barrel JOINTLY to Globe & Smart, for a whooping P69.2 Billion deal. However, the new anti-trust agency of the govt, the Phil Competition Commission, has questioned the deal between the 3 firms -particularly the 700 ghz broadband that everyone is salivating on. Tumakbo ang Globe and Smart to the CA so may TRO ngayon ang PCC for the next 3 months. Tingnan natin who will prevail: the govt of Du30 or the oligarchs? Abangan!!
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