NOW Telecom received a much-needed boost from the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC), which awarded it a radio license renewal to operate in the 800MHZ band, critical to implementing its mobile telecommunications system as authorized by the NTC. NOW Telecom is one of the four companies licensed to operate a mobile telecommunications system (MTS) after Smart, Globe, and Dito.
“This license renewal with the most coveted 800 MHZ frequencies shall strengthen the communications security and connectivity to vital critical infrastructures in the country,” says Mel Velarde, NOW Group Chairman. Bolstered by NOW Telecom’s current initiatives with the Philippine military and the Cybersecurity Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC), NOW Telecom eyes sixteen (16) critical infrastructures defined by these Philippine agencies and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that require immediate blanket coverage for a secure, reliable, and robust communications systems using only trusted equipment.”
Earlier, the U.S. government announced during the visit of U.S. VP Kamala Harris its intent to partner with NOW Telecom for the nationwide design and deployment of 5G standalone and National Broadband Network (NBN) throughout the country. The technical assistance the U.S. Trade and Development Agency extended to NOW Telecom was formalized during the recent Philippine visit of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink. “Filipinos can and should be secure online. Securing against malicious cyber activities is difficult even in the best of times, but it is infinitely more difficult when the risk comes from the entity that built and may maintain access to a telecommunications network,” Kritenbrink said during the signing of the grant documents with officials of NOW Telecom and the Department of Foreign Affairs on January 20.
NOW Telecom received the NTC license dated September 29, 2023, on October 2, 2023.
Critical Infrastructure
US Department of Homeland and Security
16 Sectors whose assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, are considered vital. Incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination.
Chemical Sector
Commercial Facilities Sector
Communications Sector
Critical Manufacturing Sector
Dams Sector
Defense Industrial Base Sector
Emergency Services Sector
Energy Sector
Financial Services Sector
Food and Agriculture Sector
Government Facilities Sector
Healthcare and Public Health Sector
Information Technology Sector
Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Sector
Transportation Systems Sector
Water and Wastewater Systems