The Philippines’ Globe Telecom has asked the country’s regulator to develop a domestic IP peering policy.
IP peering is similar to the interconnection platform used be local operators to route calls and texts to one another.
According to the Manila Times, Globe argues that internet traffic between operators in the same country would sometimes take longer than necessary to reach its target due to unwarranted overseas routing.
The operator said the lack of a domestic IP peering policy would result in inefficiency, as a customer from one operator would “experience unsatisfactory interlinking with another ISP if the latter refuses to leverage efficient domestic IP peering.”
According to Globe, favoring domestic peering would lower access costs in the country and improve the consumer experience.
Globe added ISPs would be faced with higher costs from unnecessary international traffic resulting from the lack of domestic IP peering, and savings arising from proper policy could be passed on to consumers, leading to healthier competition in the market.
The operator has established IP peering agreements with various operators and ISPs with the exception of closest rival and incumbent PLDT, which has refused to cooperate.
Globe added the upcoming PLDT-Digitel deal could potentially “embolden the incumbent to perpetuate data traffic routing contrary to efficient domestic IP peering practice.”
Globe’s push for domestic IP peering is the latest in a series of protests the operator has put forward regarding the acquisition. Globe had earlier blamed PLDT for high fixed line rates in 31 provinces, and said PLDT’s refusal to an interconnection agreement with Globe had led to long-distance rates for calls within the same area.
Globe claims it has been pushing for an interconnection agreement with PLDT since 2006 to no avail.
Globe is also calling for PLDT to surrender excess spectrum it stands to gain as a result of the acquisition, in the interests of a more level playing field.