(Courtesy of the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson)
MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday met with officials of fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. and South Korea’s largest telecommunications firm, KT Corp.
Marcos shared on his official Facebook page a photo of the meeting with Converge ICT chief executive officer Dennis Anthony Uy and KT officials Hyeon-Mo Ku and Kyoung-Lim at Malacañang Palace in Manila.
He, however, did not elaborate on the agenda of the meeting.
The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) likewise shared on Facebook several photos of Marcos’ meeting with the information and communications technology (ICT) leaders.
The OPS said KT is also holding talks with other governments regarding its investment plans.
“Ang KT Corp na naitatag noong 1981 ay isa sa mga pinakamalalaking telecommunications at digital platform service provider sa Korea na nakikipagtulungan sa gobyerno ng iba’t ibang bansa para sa pagtayo ng mga imprastrakturang pang-impormasyon at komunikasyon (KT Corp., established in 1981, is one of the largest telecommunications and digital platform service providers in Korea that is coordinating with governments of other nations to construct information and communications technology facilities),” the OPS said.
Converge partnered with KT in 2018 to join the Philippine government’s bid for a new telecommunications player.
In 2019, the government announced that DITO Telecommunity is the country’s third telecommunications provider, joining Globe Telecom, Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc.
Smart and KT, through a memorandum of understanding signed in 2021, teamed up to explore and develop consumer 5G (fifth-generation) technology use in the Philippines.
Marcos’ meeting with Converge and KT officials came after he signed on Monday Republic Act (RA) 11934 or the SIM Card Registration Act to fight spam messages and text scams.
“Asahan po ninyo na ang inyong mga personal na impormasyon ay ligtas at mananatiling pribado sa oras na simulan natin ang pagrerehistro ng mga SIM card (You can expect that your personal information will remain safe and private when you start registering your SIM cards),” he said.
RA 11934 requires Public Telecommunications Entities (PTEs) or direct sellers to demand end users of SIM cards to present a valid identification document to validate their identities.
It also mandates PTEs to submit a verified list of their authorized dealers and agents nationwide to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), to be updated every quarter.
Under RA 11934, all PTEs must maintain a SIM Card Registry of their subscribers containing information required under the new law.
The NTC is already working on the implementing rules and regulations of RA 11934. (PNA)
