National Telecommunications Center

Technologies Shaping Telecoms Industry Highlight NTC Rites

July 17, 2006

Need to know about the latest in VoIP or digital radio broadcasting in the Philippines?

Want to take a sneak peek into RFID (electronic tags imbedded in a product), digital TV, Wi-fi and Wi-max and 3G technologies? Interested at the possibility of the convergence of fixed and mobile applications? Or just want to know the latest spam threat to your email?

Get a first hand crack at these emerging technologies in broadcast and telecommunications at the seminars and activities lined up by the National
Telecommunications Commission to celebrate its 27th anniversary on July 17 to 21.

Topics of the seminars to be conducted by resource persons from the respective fields of expertise include RFID, mobile television, fixed-mobile convergence, IP in the Sky, fees and charges imposed by the NTC, IPv6 and ENUM (IP numbering), spam and related threats, broadcast rules, and 2006 NTC rules of practice and procedures.

NTC’s anniversary celebrations will also include a CEO forum where NTC officials will report on the current state of the telecommunications industry and on the accomplishments of the commission in the past year to heads of the telecom and broadcast companies.

"Definitely our report will include what we have done on 3G, VoIP, broadband wireless access, digital TV, digital radio," said NTC commissioner Ronald Solis. He added the NTC will report on its efforts to regain an administration seat in the International Telecommunications Union.

NTC deputy commissioner Jaime Fortes said a lot of new standards in technologies in use in telecommunications for the region are developed in the ITU. "We will need to have say in those standards."

NTC deputy commissioner Jorge Sarmiento said the inclusion of the NTC at the ITU will benefit not only the industry but the country as well. "We want to be there. We want to make sure that we also protect the interest of the Philippines and of the region."

During the weeklong anniversary celebrations, broadcast and telecommunications
companies will also set up booths inside the NTC compound to showcase their latest offerings and technologies to the public. Smart, Globe, Sun, eStandard, TNRI Telecom, Cable Boss and SkyCable are some of the companies who will join the exhibit.

NTC commissioner Ronald Solis said the agency will report on the amendments on
NTC’s rules of practice and regulations with a signing of memorandum of agreement with Telebap, the organization of broadcast and telecommunications lawyers practicing in the NTC.

Part of the NTC anniversary are fun activities for the employees of the NTC, such as fun run, basketball tournament, and a talent search contest called "NTC Idol." There will also be "Serbisyo Muna”, a free medical mission to be conducted on NTC’s grounds which will benefit the barangays located near the agency.