PLDT calls foul over Globe’s ‘illegal’ use of Altimax spectrum

The Manila Times writes that Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) is accusing rival operator Globe Telecom of illegally using spectrum held by broadcasting firm Altimax for WiMAX broadband services, without gaining official approval from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). The paper quotes PLDT’s head of regulatory and policy affairs, Ray Espinosa, as saying: ’Through the testimony of Globe’s witness, we were able to establish that Globe is illegally using the radio frequencies of Altimax, a broadcast company, for WiMAX purposes, which has not been authorised by the NTC.’ The frequencies in dispute concern a 30MHz block of spectrum owned by Altimax, which has been 38%-owned by Globe since 2009. Countering the accusation, Globe’s head of network technologies, Froilan Castelo, said the NTC has in part sanctioned the spectrum for WiMAX.