Globe willing to reduce text-message charges

By Lenie Lectura

AYALA-owned Globe Telecom says it is willing to reduce text-messaging fees sent to other networks at P0.50 from P1. But it has questioned the government’s move to interfere with business decisions, particularly on the carriers’ interconnection charges.

Globe senior vice president for corporate and regulatory affairs group, Rodolfo Salalima, told the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that the cellular firm proposed to offer an off-net short message service (SMS) rate of P20 per 40 texts per day in-lieu of the agency-proposed cap on voice and access charges. Effectively, the cost of one SMS sent by a Globe subscriber to another network will be P0.50.

“It is hoped and we pray that this offer, which is in response to the move in the lower house of congress and is the end-objective of the NTC and the DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications), will put to a definite close further discussion of the subject circulars,” said Salalima.

Apart from the proposed new promo, Globe currently offers SULITXT (P10 for 75 Globe-Touch Mobile or TM SMS) and EVRYBODYTXT  (P20 for 100 text sent within the network plus 10 SMS sent to other networks). Effectively, one SMS cost P0.13 under Globe and TM’s SULITXT, while the bundled EVRYBODYTXT promo yields a rate of P0.15 per text sent within Globe’s network and P0.50 per text sent to other networks.

Taking into account promo utilization ratios, Globe’s average cost of on-net text is 17 centavos per text; off-net text costs 87 centavos per text for a blended average cost of 22 centavos per text, Salalima pointed out.

Globe says it is confused as to why government keeps on interfering with the private firms’ business decisions “as voice call and SMS rates are already one of the lowest in the world.”

Globe willing to reduce text-message charges

AYALA-owned Globe Telecom says it is willing to reduce text-messaging fees sent to other networks at P0.50 from P1. But it has questioned the government’s move to interfere with business decisions, particularly on the carriers’ interconnection charges.

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