The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading the franchise renewal application of the Mislatel consortium, or the DITO Telecommunity Corp owned by businessman Dennis Uy.
With 240 affirmative votes, 7 negative votes, and no abstention, the chamber approved House Bill 7332, which grants the 25-year franchise application of DITO, as the country’s third major telecommunication player, to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain wired and/or wireless telecommunications systems.
On July 8, 2019, Duterte awarded Mislatel Consortium, now Dito Telecommunity, the permit to operate as the Philippines’ third telco provider.
Dito Telecommunity is composed of Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Udenna Corp, and China Telecom.
It was conferred with the status of New Major Player in the telecommunications industry by the National Telecommunications Commission on November 19, 2018. Mislatel’s franchise in 1998 was questioned after it failed to operate within a year but was given reprieve after lawmakers called for the urgent need for a third player to improve the country’s telecommunications services. DITO aims to begin commercial operations in March 2021.
