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Gov't wants 3rd telco to give Smart, Globe 'run for their money'

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<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1442186" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA - The government wants a third telco that &quot;has the financial and technical clout to really compete,&quot; the officer in-charge of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Wednesday. </p><p>DICT Undersecretary Eliseo Rio said the government wants the prospective third telco to avoid a repeat of what happened to San Miguel Corp. (SMC), whose telco assets were swallowed up by Globe and Smart after SMC failed to get a foreign partner to back up its bid to compete against the two firms.</p><p>&quot;We would like the third player to be robust enough financially and technically to be able to compete and give the incumbent telcos a run for their money,&quot; Rio told ANC&#x27;s Future Perfect Tech Shorts. </p><p>Rio said the government also wants the third telco to focus on fixed line broadband instead of offering cellular data. </p><p>President Rodrigo Duterte has said that he wants a third telco player to be running within the first three months of 2018.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/19/17/duterte-wants-third-telco-player-up-and-about-by-early-2018">READ: Duterte wants third telco player &#x27;up and about&#x27; by early 2018</a></li></ul><p>China Telecom has said that it is studying a possible investment in the Philippines after Duterte asked China to invest in the country&#x27;s telco industry. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/business/12/14/17/china-telecom-studies-ph-entry-after-duterte-offer">READ: China Telecom studies PH entry after Duterte offer</a></li></ul><p>Rio, meanwhile, allayed concerns that allowing a Chinese company to own a stake in the country&#x27;s telco industry may compromise the Philippines&#x27; cybersecurity. </p><p>He said both Globe and Smart have already partnered with Chinese tech firm Huawei to upgrade their networks. </p>

<p>The government wants a third telco that "has the financial and technical clout to really compete," the officer in-charge of the Department of Information and Communications Technology said on Wednesday. <br /> </p>

The government wants a third telco that "has the financial and technical clout to really compete," the officer in-charge of the Department of Information and Communications Technology said on Wednesday.