After announcing a partnership for their “media convergence” tack, Globe Telecom Inc and ABS-CBN Corp are seeking regulatory approval of their co-use of SIM numbers.
SIM refers to the subscriber identification module, which provides a unique number assigned to a telecom subscriber, distinguishing them from others in the network.
In a letter to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Globe president Ernest Cu said it has identified numbers that would available for co-use with ABS-CBN Convergence Inc (ABS-C), the broadcast network’s unit that will take charge of its mobile service rollout.
The available numbers are 0937-1XXXXXX, 0937-2XXXXXX and 0937-3XXXXXX.
Innove Communications Inc will allow the co-use by ABS-C of its local exchange numbers from among those available upon a subscriber’s use of service.
“The number blocks will be co-used by the parties to expand the coverage and extend the reach of Globe’s and Innove’s existing service authorized by NTC as well as expand the coverage and extend the reach of ABS-C’s existing service authorized as well by the NTC,” Cu said.
“The co-use of these number blocks by Globe, Innove and ABS-C will allow respective parties to maximize their existing network and interconnect resources and enhance public service without further straining the existing numbering plan of the Commission,” he said.
He said co-use will provide additional capacity and coverage without wasteful duplication of resources and investments, consistent with the objectives of the NTC to provide efficient telecommunications service to the public.
Globe and ABS-C will determine the appropriate fees to be charged for the former’s service within six months from the commercial launch of the latter’s services.
Earlier, ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III said the company will invest P2-3 billion to roll out its mobile services over the next three years.
He said the network will launch ABS-CBN Mobile SIM this year so subscribers can access content for free.
ABS-CBN will buy capacity from Globe for its mobile services under a five-year contract.
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