Now Telecom

Now Telecom was founded on March 26, 1992 as Satellite Paging Systems Philippines when the congress granted a franchise to operate radio paging.{{cite web|title=Republic Act No. 7301|date=March 26, 1992|url=https://thecorpusjuris.com/legislative/republic-acts/ra-no-7301.php}}{{cite news |title=NOW Telecom regains license as telco player in PH |url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/business/2019/9/9/NOW-Telecom-fourth-telco.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921144806/https://cnnphilippines.com/business/2019/9/9/NOW-Telecom-fourth-telco.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 21, 2019 |access-date=October 21, 2021 |publisher=CNN Philippines |date=September 9, 2019}} Its franchise was later amended on March 1, 1995.{{cite web|title=Republic Act No. 7940|date=March 1995|url=https://thecorpusjuris.com/legislative/republic-acts/ra-no-7940.php}} The company began operating as Next Mobile Incorporated (NMI/Next Mobile), and since then, has under the ownership of the Velarde Group headed by former Sky Cable's executive Mel Velarde.

In 2005, a partial stake in NMI was acquired by Cashrounds, which Velarde took over the ownership of the company's shareholding stake.{{cite news|title=Next Mobile shareholder acquires two-thirds stake in publicly-listed Cashrounds|url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2005/03/22/271297/next-mobile-shareholder-acquires-two-thirds-stake-publicly-listed-cashrounds|website=The Philippine Star|date=22 March 2005}} The following year, Cashrounds changed its corporate name to Information Capital Technology Ventures, Inc. (ICTV).{{cite news|title=Cashrounds changes name, hikes capital stock to P1.3B|url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2006/09/23/359496/cashrounds-changes-name-hikes-capital-stock-p13b|website=The Philippine Star|date=23 September 2006}}{{cite news|title=ICTV plans transfer to the PSE's Second Board|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/137512/ictv-plans-transfer-to-the-pse-s-second-board/story/|website=GMA News|date=4 December 2008}} NMI received a provisional authority license to operate cellular mobile telephony services (CMTS), but had never obtained any cellular frequencies.{{cite news|title=Now Telecom wants to challenge PLDT, Globe|url=https://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/212926|website=Manila Standard|last=Amolejar|first=Darwin|date=10 August 2016}}

In 2013, ICTV was officially renamed as Now Corporation (Now Corp). Infocom would later adapt the parent firm's operations under the Now Telecom brand, replacing Next Mobile.{{cite news|title=Now poised to revitalize operations|url=https://business.inquirer.net/185470/now-poised-to-revitalize-operations|website=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=24 January 2015}}

In 2018, Now Telecom's parent Now Corp decided not to submit the bid for the country's third telecommunications provider,{{cite news |title=NOW Corp holds off on third telco bid |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/07/18/now-corp-holds-off-on-third-telco-bid |access-date=12 November 2018 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=7 November 2018}} but the congressional franchise of the firm was renewed on the same year.{{cite news|title=Now Telecom gets franchise extension until 2043|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1337994/now-telecom-gets-provisional-extension-to-operate-as-4th-telco|website=Philippine Daily Inquirer|last=Camus|first=Miguel|date=23 February 2018}}

In 2019, Now Corp inked a joint partnership with South Korean telecommunications firm SK Telecom for the rollout of Now Telecom's 5G broadband services and becoming the fourth major telecommunications player in the Philippines.{{cite news|title=Now partners with leading Korean telco SK Telecom for 5G pivot|url=https://mb.com.ph/2019/10/30/now-partners-with-leading-korean-telco-sk-telecom-for-5g-pivot/|website=Manila Bulletin|date=30 October 2019}}{{cite news|title=Now Corp teams up with Seoul's SK Telecom for rollout of 5G tech|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/10/29/now-corp-teams-up-with-seouls-sk-telecom-for-rollout-of-5g-tech/|website=Business Mirror|date=29 October 2019}}{{cite news|title=NOW Telecom regains license as telco player in PH|url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/business/2019/9/9/NOW-Telecom-fourth-telco.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921144806/https://cnnphilippines.com/business/2019/9/9/NOW-Telecom-fourth-telco.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 21, 2019|website=CNN Philippines|date=9 September 2019}}

On October 2, 2020, NOW Corporation inked a joint partnership with Viettel.{{cite news |title=NOW Corp taps Vietnam's Viettel for ICT products, services in PH |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/10/02/20/now-corp-taps-vietnams-viettel-for-ict-products-services-in-ph |access-date=November 7, 2021 |publisher=ABS-CBN News |date=October 2, 2020}} On December 1, 2020, NOW Corporation inked a joint the partnership with Finnish multinational telecommunication Nokia for the rollout of Now telecom's 5G broadband services.{{cite news |title=NOW inks 5G rollout deal with Nokia |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/02/20/now-inks-5g-rollout-deal-with-nokia?fbclid=IwAR2rf0xfg0tJcPoLv2UICTWacX42oRjzP59P5jrnKsVlMyZSX0TpodfdFf4 |access-date=December 2, 2020 |publisher=ABS-CBN News |date=December 2, 2020}}{{cite news |title=NOW Group and Nokia Sign 5G MOU for Philippine Market |url=https://now-corp.com/2020/12/01/now-group-nokia-sign-5g-mou-philippine-market/?fbclid=IwAR2tj_otHFc8s872nye7rPOTkF2-SPvaZ3tfj0yu-8XF-58w8GKUPdhEd1w |access-date=December 2, 2020 |publisher=Now Corporation |date=December 1, 2020}}

On December 16, 2022, The US Trade and Development Agency secured grant funding for the 5G project.{{cite news |last1=Cordero |first1=Ted |title=NOW Telecom secures USTDA grant funding |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/854723/now-telecom-secures-ustda-grant-funding/story/ |access-date=1 February 2023 |publisher=GMA News |date=December 16, 2022}} On January 13, 2023, The US Trade and Development Agency and Now Telecom sealed an agreement by the US government to deploy nationwide standalone 5G mobile and fixed wireless network in the Philippines.{{cite news |last1=Abadilla |first1=Emmie V. |title=USTDA & NOW Telecom partner for 5G, NBN |url=https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/13/ustda-now-telecom-partner-for-5g-nbn/ |access-date=1 February 2023 |publisher=Manila Bulletin |date=January 13, 2023}}{{cite news |title=US gov't, NOW Telecom partner for 5G deployment in PH |url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/business/2023/1/13/US-NOW-Telecom-partner-for-5G-deployment.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113083724/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/business/2023/1/13/US-NOW-Telecom-partner-for-5G-deployment.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |publisher=CNN Philippines |date=January 13, 2023}} The company will begin its commercial network in 2024.{{cite news |last1=Abad |first1=Roderick |title=NOW Telecom to pilot 5G in NCR |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/01/26/now-telecom-to-pilot-5g-in-ncr/ |access-date=1 February 2023 |publisher=BusinessMirror |date=January 26, 2023}}

On March 10, 2024, the Supreme Court rejected its application to become a third major telco player.{{cite news |title=NOW Telecom loses Supreme Court case |url=https://www.rappler.com/business/supreme-court-junks-now-telecom-case-bidding-fees-march-2024/ |access-date=10 March 2024 |publisher=Rappler |date=10 March 2024}}

On September 14, 2020, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) granted Now Telecom a provisional authority and a cellular mobile telephone service license (which is on par with the major mobile network operators in the Philippines, Smart, Globe, and Dito), with the company claiming that with this, they are now to operate as the "fourth major telecommunications provider" in the country.{{cite news |last1=Amojelar |first1=Darwin G. |title=NOW gets license as fourth telco |url=https://www.manilastandard.net/business/it-telecom/334686/now-gets-license-as-fourth-telco.html |access-date=18 February 2023 |publisher=Manila Standard |date=September 20, 2020}}{{cite news|title=NOW Telecom gets provisional extension to operate as '4th telco'|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1337994/now-telecom-gets-provisional-extension-to-operate-as-4th-telco|website=Philippine Daily Inquirer|last=Gonzales|first=Catherine|date=21 September 2020}}{{cite news|title=NOW Telecom gets provisional authority extension|url=https://www.yugatech.com/news/now-telecom-gets-provisional-authority-extension/|website=YugaTech|date=21 September 2020}}{{cite news|title=NOW Telecom eyes public listing, 5G rollout as NTC grants provisional authority to '4th telco'|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/21/20/now-telecom-eyes-public-listing-5g-rollout-as-ntc-grants-provisional-authority-to-4th-telco|website=ABS-CBN News|date=21 September 2020}} However, the officials of both the NTC and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) disputed the statement by Now for being another player, argued that they are not a "4th major player" yet and they do not have enough frequencies to compete with the major players.{{cite web |last1=Esmael |first1=Lisbet K. |title=NOW Telecom insists it's 4th telco |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/09/23/business/companies/now-telecom-insists-its-4th-telco/770957 |website=The Manila Times |language=en |date=September 23, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Gonzales |first1=Cathrine |title=NOW Telecom not yet PH's fourth telco — DICT |url=https://technology.inquirer.net/104554/now-telecom-not-yet-phs-fourth-telco-dict |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en |date=October 6, 2020}} Although NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios confirmed that Now is given a license to operate as a mobile network, he insisted that there are other players in the market and the country has 3 major players only (referring to Smart, Globe and Dito), while the DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan repeated the statement, added that there are other 40 small players in the industry. Former DICT officer-in-charge Eliseo Rio Jr. accused Now Corporation for their claim to boost their public stock.{{cite web |last1=Esmael |first1=Lisbet K. |title=PH has no '4th telco,' ex-DICT official says |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/09/22/business/companies/ph-has-no-4th-telco-ex-dict-official-says/770538 |website=The Manila Times |language=en |date=September 22, 2020}}

In February 2021, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) penalized Now Corporation for misleading the public investors for labeling their own communications arm as a major player with the PSE added that Now Telecom had no "sufficient basis" when it declared itself as a fourth major player.{{cite web |title=PSE penalizes Now for labeling itself '4th telco player' |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/02/18/pse-penalizes-now-for-labeling-itself-4th-telco-player/ |website=BusinessMirror |date=February 18, 2021}} Now Telecom maintains the claim that they are indeed a 4th major telecommunications player.

On March 1, 2021, The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) ordered the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to approve the much-delayed assignment of frequencies the company needs for the rollout of 5G technology in the country.{{cite news |last1=Amojelar |first1=Darwin G. |title=NTC ordered to assign frequencies to NOW |url=https://manilastandard.net/business/it-telecom/348492/ntc-ordered-to-assign-frequencies-to-now.html |access-date=18 February 2023 |publisher=Manila Standard |date=March 3, 2021}} It directed the NTC to issue the provisional authority and the concomitant frequencies sought by Its company.{{cite news |last1=Iglesias |first1=Myla |title=NTC TOLD: ‘Act on NOW now’ |url=https://malaya.com.ph/news_business/ntc-told-act-on-now-now/ |access-date=18 February 2023 |publisher=Malaya |date=March 4, 2021}}

On February 3, 2022, The company received a favorable decision on an Omnibus Order from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) for its nationwide cellular mobile service. ARTA affirmed with finality its earlier resolution approving Now Telecom’s assign of 220MHz of radio frequencies namely, 1970MHz-1980MHz paired with 2160MHz to 2170MHz and 3.6GHz to 3.8GHz, including 5G frequencies for mobile and fixed wireless.{{cite news |title=NOW Telecom gets favorable ARTA ruling |url=https://manilastandard.net/news/314205567/now-telecom-gets-favorable-arta-ruling.html |access-date=13 February 2023 |publisher=Manila Standard |date=February 8, 2022}} On March 31, 2022, ARTA in a resolution denied the motion for reconsiderations filed by NTC and DITO Telecommunications and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) affirmed its decision order the National Telecommunication Communications to extend the permit on Now Telecom.{{cite news |last1=Amojelar |first1=Darwin G. |title=NTC ordered to grant permit to Now Telecom |url=https://manilastandard.net/business/it-telecom/314219837/ntc-ordered-to-grant-permit-to-now-telecom.html |access-date=13 February 2023 |publisher=Manila Standard |date=April 6, 2022}}

On April 4, 2025, the NTC revoked Now Telecom's operating license, citing failure to comply with critical regulatory and operational requirements and the firm owing P3.57 billion in unpaid regulatory fees.{{Cite news |date=April 4, 2025 |title=NTC strips NOW Telecom’s license to operate |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/941628/ntc-strips-now-telecom-s-license-to-operate/story/ |access-date=April 4, 2025 |publisher=GMA News |language=en}}

On September 29, 2023, NTC renewed the license to operate as one of the four mobile providers in the country which awarded the 800 megahertz (MHz) band. The company received the permit on October 2, 2023.{{Cite news |last=Amojelar |first=Darwin |date=October 9, 2023 |title=NTC renews permit of NOW Telecom as one of four mobile providers |work=Manila Standard |url=https://manilastandard.net/business/314378252/ntc-renews-permit-of-now-telecom-as-one-of-four-mobile-providers.html |access-date=October 9, 2023}} It is also planning to appeal for reconsideration to get the mobile frequencies needed to operate using 1970 megahertz (MHz) to 1980 MHz paired with 2160 MHz to 2170 MHz and 3.6 gigahertz (GHz) to 3.8 GHz ranges.{{Cite news |last=Camus |first=Miguel |date=October 6, 2023 |title=Now Telecom to appeal court ruling on frequency assignment |work=Inquirer.net |url=https://business.inquirer.net/425051/now-telecom-to-appeal-court-ruling-on-frequency-assignment |access-date=October 9, 2023}}

In April 2024, The High Tribunal’s Second Division, in a 44-page judgment penned by Marvic Leonen, dismissed the petitions filed by Now Telecom (Next Mobile Incorporated), Bayan Telecommunications, Multi-Media Telephony Incorporated, and AZ Communications Incorporated versus National Telecommunications Commission decisions which disqualified them for a 3G radio frequency service.{{cite news |last1= Galvez|first1=Daphne |title=Supreme Court affirms NTC orders nixing 4 telcos’ 3G service bid|url= https://qa.philstar.com/headlines/2024/04/29/2351209/supreme-court-affirms-ntc-orders-nixing-4-telcos-3g-service-bid|accessdate=April 29, 2024 |publisher= The Philippine Star|date=April 29, 2024}}

Now Telecom began its commercial operations in 2024.{{cite news |last1=Cordero |first1=Ted |title=NOW Telecom eyes commercial launch of 5G mobile, wireless network by 2024 |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/858489/now-telecom-eyes-commercial-launch-of-5g-mobile-wireless-network-by-2024/story/ |access-date=1 February 2023 |publisher=GMA News |date=January 24, 2023}}

Now Corporation owns the majority stake at 30% in Now Telecom.

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.now-telecom.com/}}

{{Philippine telecommunications companies}}

{{Philippine mobile phone companies}}

Category:Now Corporation

Category:Mobile phone companies of the Philippines

Category:Philippine companies established in 1992

Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1992

Category:Companies based in Manila