3G coming in the Philippines

I wrote a coule of months back that it is hard to believe that there won't be 3G in the Philippines. This earlier rejection took place despite the fact that they are still called the global capital of SMS and that, naturally, they should progress upwards technologically.

Okay, the technology and its usefulness is in the discussion, but, nevertheless, its subscribtion base is growing. Basically, it is only a matter of time until it will take off - IDC estimates a total of 17 million 3G users in Asia in the end of 2005 (okay, this is one of the many numbers) - and special offers to entice consumers are all around us already.

Anyway, according to BusinessWorld (Jan 26, 2005), the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) said "it will issue within the first half the final rules and regulations on 3G, the mobile technology for high-speed internet access, video streaming, and high-end data exchange." Its commissioner said that he brushed off objectiotions by "arguments of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Globe Telecom, Inc., which claim that licenses should not be issuedthis year due to lack of local demand for the service."

Rightly so - the world doesn't stop to turn, just because you don't want it to turn anymore.

(By Asia Business Consulting)