In a 31-page filing with the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC), PLDT said that Globe is a "market rival" of both PLDT and Digitel does not vest it any right to intervene in PLDT’s petition for the NTC to approve its deal with JG Summit, Digitel’s mother company.
"Allowing Globe to intervene has disastrous consequences, including but not limited to countless nuisances and harassment suits to hamper PLDT’s or Digitel’s business operations," PLDT said.
"Globe inconsistent position only demonstrates that it is not advancing the interest of consumers in hyping up its anti-competition or anti-consumers arguments. Its real motive is to appropriate for itself at no cost additional 3G frequency and bypassing this commission’s process," PLDT said.
"Globe’s fear that the approval of the joint application will further consolidate and cement under PLDT and its group more monopolistic powers, advantages, dominance and market influence to the detriment of Globe is purely imagined and speculative. Even Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu declared during his interview that "consolidation certainly should be expected in a maturing market," PLDT said.
"Considering that Globe itself did not only invest but even merged with Islacom for the same reasons that PLDT is making a significant investment in Digitel, there is absolutely no basis to accord any weight to Globe’s hypocritical attack against its competitors PLDT and Digitel," PLDT added .
In April this year, PLDT acquired a 51.55 percent stake in Digitel, operator of Sun Cellular, for P69.2 million. The remaining 48.45 percent stake held by public shareholders will be subject to a tender offer of P1.60 per share in the next three months. The total acquisition cost is P 74.1 billion.
Once the consolidation is completed, PLDT will have more than 60 million mobile phone subscribers and nearly 3 million broadband subscribers.
