We all know it as Mislatel, which is composed of China Telecommunications Corporation and Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corporation and Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corporation.

But it’s now known as Dito Telecommunity Corporation, as revealed by the consortium itself.

The announcement was made on the same day it got the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity — or permit to operate — from the National Telecommunications Commission. This, after the Philippines’ third major telco player complied with the requirement of P10 billion in additional paid-in capital and the submission of a P25.7 billion performance bond.

The green-lighting of Dito Telecommunity’s operation in the country is an attempt to break the duopoly of PLDT-Smart and Globe Telecom and promote genuine competition in the industry.

SEE ALSO: Globe makes history with 1st 5G service in Southeast Asia

According to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who personally awarded the certificate to the consortium at a ceremony held at Malacañang, “This is one step forward to fulfilling this administration’s commitment to provide better telecommunications services to the Filipino people.”

He added: “The commitment to improve the country’s internet speed from 4.5Mbps to 55Mbps is a milestone in our efforts to provide fast, reliable, secure, and more affordable communications services to the public.”

Earlier, Dito Telecommunity promised to offer 27Mbps of internet speed in its first year of operation and 55Mbps that covers 84.01% of the population in five years. It also said it intends to spend P257 billion in infrastructure and service rollout during the said period.

As it sets its sight to start commercial operations by 2020, it’s preparing to conduct a pilot user program towards the end of 2019.

Awarding of permit to operate to Dito Telecommunity Corporation, formerly known as Mislatel. President Duterte’s speech start at the 6:36 mark

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