“NTC should immediately implement the six second-per-pulse charging on calls,” said Mr Rick Bahague of the Computer Professionals' Union (CPU) in reaction to the recent ruling of the Court of Appeals supporting the NTC to impose such billing scheme to telcos. CPU is a convenor of TxtPower, a consumer group which focuses on the rights of users of mobile phones and the internet.
“It is not sufficient that telcos offer prefix dialing to avail of six-second per pulse charging. The registration and calling process in such promos is an inconvenience to subscribers,” reiterates Mr. Bahague. The six second-per-pulse billing scheme will benefit millions of callers. Instead of being charged per-minute even for calls less than a minute, calls will now be charged in a per-six-second basis. “Although, we would be happier if a per-second charging is implemented,” adds Mr. Bahague.
In the six-second per pulse billing scheme, the usual “Hi and hello” conversation will now cost less than P2, instead of the current P6.00 charged by the Telcos. “Txtpower welcomes this decision of the Court of Appeals and challenges NTC to immediately impose it to telcos,” said Mr. Bahague.
“Telcos are yet to comply to previous NTC memorandum which lowers regular sms cost by 20 centavos. Illegal charges collected by telcos amounts now to P1.184 B due to their non-compliance. NTC should sanctions telcos now for the benefit of mobile subscribers,” concludes Mr. Bahague. ###