The Philippines' National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has officially named the China Telecom led Mislatel consortium as the market's third major player.
The regulator has issued a confirmation order declaring the consortium consisting of China Telecom and business concerns owned by local tycoon Dennis Uy as the market's third telco.
Mislatel consists of China Telecom, the Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company, Udenna Corporation and Chelesea Logistics Holdings.
The consortium was provisionally named the winner earlier this month after submitting what the NTC had determined was the sole qualifying bid in the selection process.
But PT&T, one of two other companies to have submitted bids in the process, had appealed the rejection of its application. The NTC has now dismissed this appeal and formally named Mislatel the winner.
PT&T is meanwhile challenging the decision in the Philippines' Supreme Court. According toABS-CBN News, PT&T questioned its qualification for the bidding before the court, with the NTC replying stating that the company had failed to produce the required certification of 10 years' prior experience.
PT&T (Philippine Telegraph & Telephone) is the former fixed line government monopoly and has been in operation for 56 years.