[imc-qc] News: Consumers celebrate continuation of 24/7 unlimited calls/text, as NTC delays deliberations

[Tonyo Cruz]

For immediate release					
February 12, 2005	

Consumers declare ‘initial victory’ following NTC decision
deferring deliberations on Smart, Globe complaint vs. Sun Cellular

The consumer group TXTPower today welcomed as “a victory for consumers” the 
decision of the National Telecommunications Commission to defer action on 
the complaint of Smart and Globe against Sun Cellular over the latter’s 
“24/7 Unlimited Call and Text” subscription plan.

“The consumers have won ­ for now. The NTC has temporarily prevented Smart 
and Globe from pushing their weight around. We hope that the NTC would 
eventually give a final decision that will favor consumers and prevent 
monopoly domination,” said Anthony Ian Cruz, founder and convenor of TXTPower.

According to news reports, the NTC has decided to defer deliberations on 
the 24/7 issue until next month.

Cruz said that “the 24/7 subscription plan of Sun Cellular and similar 
offerings of other cellular providers in other countries show that 
providing unlimited calls and text messaging on any GSM network is both 
possible and good for business.”

“Smart and Globe may not like such ideas to prosper because their 
superprofits may be put in danger. They want to maintain high costs of 
calls even if many cellular providers worldwide are shifting to flat rate 
plans such as the 24/7,” he explained.

He said that “it would be better if Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular would 
actually compete in terms of lowering their prices and rates, not the 
reverse. By trying to stop 24/7, the two monopoly players only show that 
they want consumer to just two, which are both expensive relative to 
current income levels of the common Filipino.”

The TXTPower leader likewise urged Sun Cellular “to shape up”, citing 
mounting complaints of network congestion, dropped calls, failed 
message-sending, delayed message receipt and difficulties in loading 
prepaid accounts.

“These complaints should be met with continued network upgrades so that 
current and future demands would be satisfied. Even the cheapest prices 
won’t be able to attract buyers if there is no improvement of services,” 
said Cruz. ###

For reference:
Anthony Ian Cruz
Mobile No. 0917-8928277