THE Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO), composed of the country’s leading telcos, is calling for a review of the Konektadong Pinoy Act that was ratified by both chambers of Congress and awaiting the President’s signature.
The PCTO said, that while it supports the bill’s goal of expanding internet access across the country, it warned that the version passed by the bicameral committee could “lead to national security vulnerabilities, weaken regulatory oversight, and destabilize the telecommunications sector in the long run.”
“We support providing broader connectivity to all Filipinos. However, the bill lowers the bar for accountability and opens the country to risks tied to unregulated infrastructure and potential foreign control,” said Atty. Froilan Castelo, PCTO president and Globe general counsel.
Under the measure, new data transmission players are no longer required to secure a legislative franchise or Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) — a move that removes key filters historically used to evaluate legal, financial, technical, and cybersecurity readiness.
“This creates a two-tier system. Existing players remain subject to full regulation, while new entrants operate with fewer checks. That’s a national security concern and a fairness issue,” said Castelo.
The PCTO also raised concern about the law’s exemption for satellite direct access services from any form of registration or authorization from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) or the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
This stands in contrast to the law’s own principle of technology neutrality under Section 19.
On cybersecurity, the group flagged that the law allows new players a two-year window to comply with national and international security standards.
The PCTO believes this delay is unacceptable in today’s environment of escalating cyber threats.
Another gap in the law is the absence of any requirement for new players to serve geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), according to the group, adding that “this could incentivize new entrants to focus only on high-density urban areas, leaving rural communities behind.”
The telecom operators also noted the risks of rushing legislation without deeper stakeholder review, citing the POGO law as a cautionary example of well-intended but poorly executed policy.
The PCTO urged the administration to closely review the measure before signing the bill and to ensure that its implementing rules establish clear, enforceable guardrails are the ones that promote real digital inclusion, ensure national security, and preserve a fair and future-ready industry. (GMA Integrated News)
