Legislation allowing triple play service could take a decade

Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosário has confirmed that the government will move forward with plans to enable telecommunications companies to be able to provide integrated Internet, TV and telephone services (the so-called triple play service) but that it could take a decade to implement. Triple play services are already common in many countries worldwide.

According to the Secretary, significant legislation needs amendment before the package services can be licensed, and current telecommunication contracts in place must also expire, reported Lusa.

“As we all know, there are four telecom operators providing mobile services at the moment, but in the future we hope that every single company can provide a [package] service to the public,” said Rosário earlier this week, as cited by TDM.

“We are determined to push this forward though we are starting a bit late,” he admitted.

The Telecommunications Regulation Bureau indicated last year that the government would require just two or three years to complete the regulation for the triple play services. The then-acting director, Tam Van Iu, said the licenses will offer locals more viewing choices.

Now the Secretary says that two types of license frameworks might exist; one for network infrastructure operators such as CTM, and another for operators providing retail services. The former will provide the infrastructure services required by the latter.

Earlier this year, CTM CEO Vandy Poon said that CTM is interested in providing integrated Internet, TV and telephone services once the government regulates them. “The government has indicated in the recent past that they are working on stimulating the licensing of those services,” Poon noted.