Pinoy tech firm taps Huawei for network roll-out

Listed company ICTV (Information Capital Technology Ventures Inc.) signed an agreement on Sept. 2 with Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei for the planned network upgrade of its telco property Next Mobile. The deal was signed at the 2011 Philippines-Eastern China Business Forum in Shanghai during President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino’s state visit in China. Aquino himself witnessed the signing ceremony led by ICTV CEO and President/Next Mobile CEO Mel Velarde, ICTV vice chairman Jose Manuel Romualdez, and Huawei Technologies Philippine President Li Wei. No financial terms were disclosed. In a statement, ICTV said agreement marks the initial stage of ICTV’s nationwide build-up plans for Next Mobile. Huawei will supply and deliver the necessary equipment and technology services required for the project. Next Mobile, formerly known as Nextel Communications Philippines, is a telecommunications firm that has operated under digital trunk radio business, offering Push-To-Talk functionality. It has also obtained Cellular Mobile Telephone System (CMTS) license. — TJD, GMA News