- San Miguel Corporation announces end of talks with Telstra
- SMC President Ramon Ang said both companies failed to agree on commercial arrangement
- Despite the drawback, he says they’ll still enter the telco business as planned though
MANILA, Philippines – With Australia’s largest Internet service provider effectively out of the game, San Miguel Corporation will have to square it off alone against the dominant duopoly of Globe and PLDT.
In a statement, SMC president and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang said the country’s largest conglomerate has ended talks with Telstra after both companies failed to reach an agreement concerning commercial issues and equity investment.
“Both SMC and Telstra worked hard to come up with an acceptable resolution to some issues. However, we agreed we can no longer continue with the talks. I believe this is best for all parties,” Rappler quoted him as saying.
Despite the drawback however, Ang said SMC will still push through with its plan to enter the telecommunications business as a third player.
“SMC’s entry in the telecom market will definitely be a game changer. When we launch, consumers will benefit from better, cheaper service,” he said, adding that while the company is still open to ventures with other interested parties, they will study their options carefully in order to provide Filipinos better service.
“We are not rushing. What’s important is that we give Filipinos a third and better choice that they have been deprived of for the longest time,” he said.
Ang also said Telstra is still willing to cooperate with SMC on matters of technical work and consultancy.
Among SMC’s assets to be used for its telco businesses are its licensed 700 MHz radio frequencies which are essential for 4G data services and are long sought by both PLDT and Globe.
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