By Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
Malacañang has revealed that South Korean multinational conglomerate LG Corp. is also interested in becoming the third telecommunications service provider in the country.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar had earlier said that a South Korean firm is interested in becoming the country’s third telco player in partnership with PT&T.
Andanar said LG’s possible entry will make the Philippine telecommunications industry more interesting this year.
“Ito iyong makikipag-partner na Korean company with PT&T. So, interesado daw ang LG, according to my source,” he said. “So this will be very exciting. Kasi kung mayroon ka namang ganiyang kalaking kumpanya na mag-i-invest sa Pilipinas with PT&T, then it becomes a very exciting telco industry for the Philippines this 2018,” he added.
China Telecom had also revealed to be interested in becoming the country’s third telecommunications player. However, they have yet to find a local partner with an existing franchise in order to comply with the country’s constitutional provision limiting foreign ownership to 40 percent.
Despite China Telecom being named as the third possible telco player in the country, Andanar said the offer is also open to other countries interested in competing with the existing two large telecommunications company in the Philippines – Globe and Smart.
“Kung sino ang pinakamagandang offer sa bidding, aba’y iyon ang mananalo. Hindi naman ito parang monopolya pagdating sa third player. Kailangan talaga it’s the best,” Andanar said.
“May the best bidder win para at least mabigyan ng magandang serbisyo at telco experience ang ating mga kababayan,” he added.
LG, a Seoul-based conglomerate, manufactures electronics, chemicals, and telecommunications products in over 80 countries through its subsidiaries such as LG Electronics, Zenith, and LG Display.
