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NOW Telecom
Formerly
  • Satellite Paging Systems Philippines (1992–2000)
  • Next Mobile Incorporated (2000)
  • Infocom Communications Network (2000–2013)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded26 March 1992; 32 years ago (1992-03-26)
HeadquartersNOW Bldg., España Blvd., Sampaloc,
Manila, Metro Manila
,
Philippines
Area served
Philippines
Key people
  • Mel Velarde (Chairman)
  • Engr. Rene L. Rosales (President)
Services
Owner
Websitewww.now-telecom.com

Now Telecom Company, Inc. (stylized as NOW Telecom) is a telecommunications firm based in the Philippines. The company provides broadband and fiber-optic communication services to upper-class residential and commercial areas in Metro Manila under the Now Fiber Air brand. The firm, along with Now Corporation (Now Corp) and News and Entertainment Network Corporation (NEWSNET), formed the unified Now Network service.

History

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Now Telecom was founded on March 26, 1992 as Satellite Paging Systems Philippines when the congress granted a franchise to operate radio paging.[2][3] Its franchise was later amended on March 1, 1995.[4] The company began operating as Next Mobile Incorporated (NMI/Next Mobile), and since then, has under the ownership of the Velarde Group headed by former Sky Cable's executive Mel Velarde.

In 2005, a partial stake in NMI was acquired by Cashrounds, which Velarde took over the ownership of the company's shareholding stake.[5] The following year, Cashrounds changed its corporate name to Information Capital Technology Ventures, Inc. (ICTV).[6][7] NMI received a provisional authority license to operate cellular mobile telephony services (CMTS), but had never obtained any cellular frequencies.[8]

In 2013, ICTV was officially renamed as Now Corporation (Now Corp). Infocom would later adapt the parent firm's operations under the Now Telecom brand, replacing Next Mobile.[9]

In 2018, Now Telecom's parent Now Corp decided not to submit the bid for the country's third telecommunications provider,[10] but the congressional franchise of the firm was renewed on the same year.[1][11]

In 2019, Now Corp inked a joint partnership with South Korean telecommunications firm SK Telecom for the rollout of Now Telecom's 5G broadband services and becoming the fourth major telecommunications player in the Philippines.[12][13][14]

On October 2, 2020, NOW Corporation inked a joint partnership with Viettel.[15] On December 1, 2020, NOW Corporation inked a joint the partnership with Finnish multinational telecommunication Nokia for the rollout of Now telecom's 5G broadband services.[16][17]

On December 16, 2022, The US Trade and Development Agency secured grant funding for the 5G project.[18] On January 13, 2023, The US Trade and Development Agency and Now Telecom sealed an agreement by the US government to deploy nationwide standalone 5G mobile and fixed wireless network in the Philippines.[19][20] The company will begin its commercial network in 2024.[21]

On March 10, 2024, The Supreme Court junks bid to become a third major telco player.[22]

Provisional authority as mobile operator

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On September 14, 2020, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) granted Now Telecom a provisional authority and a cellular mobile telephone service license (which is on par with the major mobile network operators in the Philippines, Smart, Globe, and Dito), with the company claiming that with this, they are now to operate as the "fourth major telecommunications provider" in the country.[23][24][25][26] However, the officials of both the NTC and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) disputed the statement by Now for being another player, argued that they are not a "4th major player" yet and they do not have enough frequencies to compete with the major players.[27][28] Although NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios confirmed that Now is given a license to operate as a mobile network, he insisted that there are other players in the market and the country has 3 major players only (referring to Smart, Globe and Dito),[27] while the DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan repeated the statement, added that there are other 40 small players in the industry.[28] Former DICT officer-in-charge Eliseo Rio Jr. accused Now Corporation for their claim to boost their public stock.[29]

In February 2021, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) penalized Now Corporation for misleading the public investors for labeling their own communications arm as a major player with the PSE added that Now Telecom had no "sufficient basis" when it declared itself as a fourth major player.[30] Now Telecom maintains the claim that they are indeed a 4th major telecommunications player.[27]

On March 1, 2021, The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) ordered the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to approve the much-delayed assignment of frequencies the company needs for the rollout of 5G technology in the country.[31] It directed the NTC to issue the provisional authority and the concomitant frequencies sought by Its company.[32]

On February 3, 2022, The company received a favorable decision on an Omnibus Order from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) for its nationwide cellular mobile service. ARTA affirmed with finality its earlier resolution approving Now Telecom’s assign of 220MHz of radio frequencies namely, 1970MHz-1980MHz paired with 2160MHz to 2170MHz and 3.6GHz to 3.8GHz, including 5G frequencies for mobile and fixed wireless.[33] On March 31, 2022, ARTA in a resolution denied the motion for reconsiderations filed by NTC and DITO Telecommunications and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) affirmed its decision order the National Telecommunication Communications to extend the permit on Now Telecom.[34]

Fourth telco player

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On September 29, 2023, NTC renewed the license to operate as one of the four mobile providers in the country which awarded the 800 megahertz (MHz) band. The company received the permit on October 2, 2023.[35] It is also planning to appeal for reconsideration to get the mobile frequencies needed to operate using 1970 megahertz (MHz) to 1980 MHz paired with 2160 MHz to 2170 MHz and 3.6 gigahertz (GHz) to 3.8 GHz ranges.[36]

In April 2024, The High Tribunal’s Second Division, in a 44-page judgment penned by Marvic Leonen, dismissed the petitions filed by Now Telecom (Next Mobile Incorporated), Bayan Telecommunications, Multi-Media Telephony Incorporated, and AZ Communications Incorporated versus National Telecommunications Commission decisions which disqualified them for a 3G radio frequency service.[37]

Start of operations

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Now Telecom will begin its commercial operations in 2024.[38]

Ownership

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Now Corporation owns the majority stake at 30% in Now Telecom.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "NOW Telecom offers 11% more shareholdings to affiliate company". GMA News. June 3, 2019.
  2. ^ "Republic Act No. 7301". March 26, 1992.
  3. ^ "NOW Telecom regains license as telco player in PH". CNN Philippines. September 9, 2019. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  4. ^ "Republic Act No. 7940". March 1995.
  5. ^ "Next Mobile shareholder acquires two-thirds stake in publicly-listed Cashrounds". The Philippine Star. March 22, 2005.
  6. ^ "Cashrounds changes name, hikes capital stock to P1.3B". The Philippine Star. September 23, 2006.
  7. ^ "ICTV plans transfer to the PSE's Second Board". GMA News. December 4, 2008.
  8. ^ Amolejar, Darwin (August 10, 2016). "Now Telecom wants to challenge PLDT, Globe". Manila Standard.
  9. ^ "Now poised to revitalize operations". Philippine Daily Inquirer. January 24, 2015.
  10. ^ "NOW Corp holds off on third telco bid". ABS-CBN News. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  11. ^ Camus, Miguel (February 23, 2018). "Now Telecom gets franchise extension until 2043". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  12. ^ "Now partners with leading Korean telco SK Telecom for 5G pivot". Manila Bulletin. October 30, 2019.
  13. ^ "Now Corp teams up with Seoul's SK Telecom for rollout of 5G tech". Business Mirror. October 29, 2019.
  14. ^ "NOW Telecom regains license as telco player in PH". CNN Philippines. September 9, 2019. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019.
  15. ^ "NOW Corp taps Vietnam's Viettel for ICT products, services in PH". ABS-CBN News. October 2, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  16. ^ "NOW inks 5G rollout deal with Nokia". ABS-CBN News. December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  17. ^ "NOW Group and Nokia Sign 5G MOU for Philippine Market". Now Corporation. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  18. ^ Cordero, Ted (December 16, 2022). "NOW Telecom secures USTDA grant funding". GMA News. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  19. ^ Abadilla, Emmie V. (January 13, 2023). "USTDA & NOW Telecom partner for 5G, NBN". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  20. ^ "US gov't, NOW Telecom partner for 5G deployment in PH". CNN Philippines. January 13, 2023. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023.
  21. ^ Abad, Roderick (January 26, 2023). "NOW Telecom to pilot 5G in NCR". BusinessMirror. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  22. ^ "NOW Telecom loses Supreme Court case". Rappler. March 10, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  23. ^ Amojelar, Darwin G. (September 20, 2020). "NOW gets license as fourth telco". Manila Standard. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  24. ^ Gonzales, Catherine (September 21, 2020). "NOW Telecom gets provisional extension to operate as '4th telco'". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  25. ^ "NOW Telecom gets provisional authority extension". YugaTech. September 21, 2020.
  26. ^ "NOW Telecom eyes public listing, 5G rollout as NTC grants provisional authority to '4th telco'". ABS-CBN News. September 21, 2020.
  27. ^ a b c Esmael, Lisbet K. (September 23, 2020). "NOW Telecom insists it's 4th telco". The Manila Times.
  28. ^ a b Gonzales, Cathrine (October 6, 2020). "NOW Telecom not yet PH's fourth telco — DICT". INQUIRER.net.
  29. ^ Esmael, Lisbet K. (September 22, 2020). "PH has no '4th telco,' ex-DICT official says". The Manila Times.
  30. ^ "PSE penalizes Now for labeling itself '4th telco player'". BusinessMirror. February 18, 2021.
  31. ^ Amojelar, Darwin G. (March 3, 2021). "NTC ordered to assign frequencies to NOW". Manila Standard. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  32. ^ Iglesias, Myla (March 4, 2021). "NTC TOLD: 'Act on NOW now'". Malaya. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  33. ^ "NOW Telecom gets favorable ARTA ruling". Manila Standard. February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  34. ^ Amojelar, Darwin G. (April 6, 2022). "NTC ordered to grant permit to Now Telecom". Manila Standard. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  35. ^ Amojelar, Darwin (October 9, 2023). "NTC renews permit of NOW Telecom as one of four mobile providers". Manila Standard. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  36. ^ Camus, Miguel (October 6, 2023). "Now Telecom to appeal court ruling on frequency assignment". Inquirer.net. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  37. ^ Galvez, Daphne (April 29, 2024). "Supreme Court affirms NTC orders nixing 4 telcos' 3G service bid". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  38. ^ Cordero, Ted (January 24, 2023). "NOW Telecom eyes commercial launch of 5G mobile, wireless network by 2024". GMA News. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
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