MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Tuesday (December 18) has ordered the mandatory unlocking of mobile devices of postpaid users after the lock-in period.
DICT signed on Friday (December 17) Memorandum Order No. 004 which orders the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to promulgate rules and regulations that will require telcos to unlock their subscribers’ mobile devices once the lock-in period is completed.
This is “to provide the user or subscriber greater freedom and flexibility” to choose their preferred wireless service providers.
The memorandum, however, clarified that the order covers subscribers with no outstanding obligations in their subscription contracts.
Pierre Tito Gala, an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) advocate, lauds this move by the government.
However, he said, such order is not enough to say that the Filipinos get the best internet and telecommunications service they deserve.
Gala noted, a legislative move must be done in order to improve the country’s telecommunications industry at present.
Among his suggestions include amendments in the Open Access Data Transmission Act and the Spectrum Management Reform Act among others.
“Limited naman kasi ang terms of reference dahil sa existing laws na kailangang amyendahan. Dahil kulang ang frequencies, ang spectrum, kailangan natin ng spectrum management reform act. Very priority iyon,” he explained.
Should this be realized, he said the Philippines could have at least four to five telcos that can help improve wireless services in the country.
Unless the law is amended, thousands of Filipinos will not be able to have access to the internet.
That means around 12,000 barangays across the country will fall behind other areas in 2024 due to lack of internet connection as a result of lack of infrastructure and limited wireless frequency. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Mon Jocson)
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