Telecom Regulatory and Policy Environment in the Philippines: Results and Analysis of the 2008 TRE Survey

Abstract:     
The TRE survey was conducted from May 17 to July 7, 2008. Sixty-six (66) respondents comprised the three different stakeholder groups who participated in the study. Each group had at least 16 respondents who answered the survey.

Compared with the TRE in 2006 there were mixed results across the same dimensions surveyed in 2008. There are some dimensions that improved, and some that declined. Those that increased were perceptions about Universal Service Obligations, Regulation of anti-competitive practices and TRE for interconnection in the mobile sector in particular. Among those perceptions that declined were the TREs for Market Entry and Access to Scarce Resources. There was no change in perceptions on tariff regulation, which may be due to perceptions that declining tariffs are attributable more to market forces due to competition in both mobile and fixed lines, rather than direct rate regulations imposed by the state.

The broadband sector which was made part of the 2008 TRE had no comparative rating in 2006. However, on average, the scores obtained for broadband TRE was lower than the scores obtained for both mobiles and fixed line telephones. This suggests that informed stakeholders perceive that regulators have not been focusing on this sector as much as it has with voice services.

CDMA phones, also known as ‘wireless fixed line’ are considered part of the fixed line telephones. A seventh dimension, involving quality of service was introduced in the 2008 TRE. It is in this dimension that the mobile sector scored the highest, which implies (given how competition in the mobile sector is most intense) that competition can help spur improvement in services.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 31

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