THREE groups have submitted bids to operate the third major telecommunications company in the country.
These are the Mislatel Consortium, composed of Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company, Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corporation and China Telecommunications Corporation; PT&T; and Tier1 Consortium, which is composed of former governor Chavit Singson’s LCS Corporation and Sear Telecom.
The bids were opened Wednesday, November 7, as scheduled amid objections of PT&T and Sear Telecom representatives.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Wednesday, Mislatel said it was confident that the extensive supply chain and knowledge of local industries of Chelsea’s parent company Udenna Corporation will “complement the world-class technology and telecommunications expertise of China Telecommunications Corporation”.
The group also said Chelsea’s “expertise in logistics and distribution will enable the speedy development of the network.”
“In the event that the consortium is confirmed as the NMP (new major player), its immediate priority will be to prepare and to consolidate all the required resources in order to provide the best telecommunications services that Filipinos have been aspiring for,” the group added.
Udenna and Chelsea are led by Davao businessman Dennis Uy, who also leads Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Incorporated, Philippine H2O Ventures Corporation and 2GO Group Incorporated. He also sits in the board of Atok-Big Wedge Company, ISM Communications Corporation, Alphaland Corporation and Apex Mining Company.
The new major player, which President Rodrigo Duterte wants known this month, is expected to end the duopoly of telecommunication giants Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Globe Telecom. (MVI/RAG/SunStar Philippines)