ABS-CBN looking to break the telco duopoly

The Lopez-led media conglomerate, ABS-CBN Corporation, has recently announced that it inked a Network Sharing Agreement with Globe Telecoms that will pave the way for the media company’s plan of being one of the key players in the local telecommunications industry.

The Network Sharing Agreement that ABS-CBN and Globe recently signed allows the former to use Globe’s servers, towers and switches that would enable the media company to deliver traditional telco services such as SMS, voice calls and internet surfing.

(From left to right: Carlo Katigbak, Eugenio Lopez III and Ernest Cu)

However, Chairman Eugenio Lopez III pointed out that the focus of their services will be on the data components rather than the voice components. This is in line with the broadcast firm’s plan of including exclusive digital contents to their services to future ABS-CBN Mobile users. Globe’s CEO Ernest Cu adds by saying that “The exclusive content that ABS-CBN will provide ushers in a new form of entertainment for mobile users in the Philippines.”

“We have come to realize that the mobile Internet is going to become one of the most important platforms for delivering content to our audiences. We believe that in the same way television revolutionized the mass market’s ability to receive information and entertainment, the wireless Internet will be the next most important medium for our audience. Very soon, our Kapamilyas will enjoy special shows, receive our news, and interact with our stars from anywhere and anytime they want, through their tablets and cellphones,”

-Carlo Katigbak, ABS-CBN Head of Convergence

There’s no word when ABS-CBN plans to launch its new mobile platform, but it’s been said that the broadcasting firm will be investing some 2 to 3 billion pesos over the course of the next three years for the initial rollout.

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