Trans Digital Excel Inc. (TDE), the majority shareholder of Express Telecommunications Co., Inc., urges the National Telecommunications Commission’s to reallocate for GSM use the frequencies assigned to Bell Telecommunications Philippines which have not been used for 11 years.

In reaction to the NTC decision not to recall the frequencies, TDE legal counsel Plaridel J. Bohol II pointed out that such scarce resource should not be left idle and should instead be reallocated for use by cellular mobile telecommunications system since there are not enough frequencies for this popular service.

“Belltel’s frequencies assigned in 1998 within the 1710-1720 and 1805-1815 MHz band is for a wireless local loop which has been rendered virtually obsolete by current technology and should thus be put to different use,” said Bohol.

He noted that Belltel had intended, but never even purchased suitable equipment, for only two local stations in Makati and Biñan, Laguna 11 years after being assigned the frequency.

“Why should the frequency be held hostage by a company with little or no plan to use it when it can be put to much better use by others for GSM,” said Bohol adding that, this way, the frequencies will be optimally utilized nationwide instead of the local reach of two small stations.

He said the frequency band 1710-1720/1805-1815 MHz has been identified by the ITU as a suitable frequency for GSM and a considerable majority of countries have allocated, and are in fact using, the 1710-1720/1805-1815 MHz band for CMTS.

“This means that the CMTS technology platforms operating on this band have attained considerable maturity that it is now possible to deploy a CMTS network on the said frequency,” said Bohol.

Aside from this, Bohol said a CMTS reallocation will earn the government significantly more of the much-needed revenues in the form of spectrum user fees, said Bohol, noting that Belltel still has unpaid SUF.

Bohol cited the NTC decision which stated that its own Frequency Management Division wanted to recall Belltel’s frequencies for not seeking construction permits in 11 years for almost all of the 87 stations it was supposed to put up when NTC rules provide that the frequencies be recalled if not used within one year.

The FMD included Belltel’s frequencies in the list of candidates for recall following an order by then Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza to make an inventory of frequencies and recall those that are being “hoarded,” because they remain unused or under-utilized by companies that only wish to speculate and make a quick profit.

Following this order, the FMD had listed for recall, among others, Belltel’s frequencies for WLL which it said can be used for 2G CMTS.

Belltel was ordered by the NTC to show cause why its frequencies should not be recalled since it is not in operation. An administrative case was eventually filed against Belltel for the recall of its frequencies.

However, the NTC suddenly decided to junk recommendations of its FMD and opted not to recall Belltel’s frequencies and even extended the firm’s provisional authority to maintain a mobile telecommunications network even though it has yet to roll out the service.