NTC orders telcos to ensure uninterrupted services during holidays

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NTC orders telcos to ensure uninterrupted services during holidays
Rivals Smart and Globe say they are ready for the voice calls and SMS surge this holiday season

MANILA, Philippines – The National Telecommunications Communications (NTC) ordered telecommunication companies to ensure uninterrupted services during the holiday season.

Based on NTC Memorandum Order No. 05-122014, all public telecom entities must comply with all unlimited type of service offerings, including Internet or broadband access, particularly from December 23 to 26, December 30 and 31, and January 1 and 2.

“All necessary network adjustments and maintenance should be undertaken to ensure that the networks are ready to accommodate the expected increase in traffic during the holiday season,” NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said in the order.

According to NTC, sufficient operation and maintenance personnel should also be deployed “to ensure 99.999 network availability and reliability.”

Multiple platforms

Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Company (PLDT) and Smart spokesperson Ramon Isberto said it has been a standard operating procedure for the PLDT Group to review and make adjustments in its network, especially during the holiday season.

Isberto also said that about a billion text messages per day are exchanged during the holidays. “In a way, it’s easier to manage now because there are several platforms [in place] like instant messaging, Viber, Facebook, etc.,” he added.

Isberto still encouraged subscribers to make their calls and send their messages early during Christmas and New Year.

Ayala-led Globe said the company is ready and prepared to accommodate an expected surge in network traffic during the holiday season, Yoly Crisanto, senior vice president for corporate communications of the firm said.

 “While we expect a significant surge in voice, SMS, and data usage during the holiday season, especially in the hours leading to Christmas and New Year, we want to assure our customers that the Globe network is capable and well-equipped to accommodate any upsurge in network traffic,” Crisanto said.

Crisanto said the growing prevalence of smartphones and tablets and popularity of online social apps are expected to lead to surges in data use.

“Customers’ behavior in sending holiday greetings continues to evolve and they now turn to their smartphones and other mobile devices in sending holiday greetings through various online apps,” she said. – Rappler.com

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