Express Telecom
Encyclopedia
Express Telecommunication Co., Inc., commonly known as Express Telecom or Extelcom for short, is the Philippines
' first mobile phone
network operator. They operate an analog AMPS
network and remains to this day the only analog network currently operating in the Philippines. Extelcom has yet to upgrade its cellular operations to GSM from and therefore cannot offer the hugely popular text messaging service. In 2004, they hold only 0.12% share of the Philippine mobile market of 50 million subscribers (estimate 2007).
by the National Telecommunications Commission
. In May 1989, limited operations commenced with the installation of Extelcom's first switch in Antipolo City
and three cell sites in Metro Manila. The company initially offered the latest in advanced cellular technology during that time with such service features as call forwarding
, No Answer Transfer call waiting
, and three-way conferencing. It was assigned the area codes 973 and 974 (presently not in use). In October 1992, Extelcom was granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) by the NTC. To date Extelcom is the only CMTS operator in the Philippines with a CPCN. Extelcom introduced the first cellular prepaid card in the country "Cellcard".
It has 10 MHz on the 800 bandwidth for its analog network. The NTC in September 2001 gave Extelcom 5 megahertz (MHz) frequency in the 1800 bandwidth for its planned GSM operations. They dropped their GSM plans in 2003 in favor of deploying a network based on the CDMA protocol.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
' first mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
network operator. They operate an analog AMPS
Advanced Mobile Phone System
Advanced Mobile Phone System was an analog mobile phone system standard developed by Bell Labs, and officially introduced in the Americas in 1983, Israel in 1986, and Australia in 1987. It was the primary analog mobile phone system in North America through the 1980s and into the 2000s...
network and remains to this day the only analog network currently operating in the Philippines. Extelcom has yet to upgrade its cellular operations to GSM from and therefore cannot offer the hugely popular text messaging service. In 2004, they hold only 0.12% share of the Philippine mobile market of 50 million subscribers (estimate 2007).
History
Established in December 1988, Extelcom was granted a provisional authority to install, operate and maintain a Cellular Mobile Telephone System (CMTS) in Metro ManilaMetro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
by the National Telecommunications Commission
National Telecommunications Commission (Philippines)
The Philippines' National Telecommunications Commission , abbreviated as NTC, is an agency of the Philippine government under the Commission on Information and Communications Technology responsible for the supervision, adjudication and control over all telecommunications services throughout the...
. In May 1989, limited operations commenced with the installation of Extelcom's first switch in Antipolo City
Antipolo City
Antipolo is a city in the Philippines located in the province of Rizal; about 25 kilometers east of Manila. It is the largest city in the Calabarzon Region in terms of population...
and three cell sites in Metro Manila. The company initially offered the latest in advanced cellular technology during that time with such service features as call forwarding
Call forwarding
Call forwarding , in telephony, is a feature on some telephone networks allowing an incoming call to a called party to be redirected to a third party. For example, the third party may be a mobile telephone, voicemail box or other telephone number where the desired called party is situated. It was...
, No Answer Transfer call waiting
Call waiting
Call waiting , in telephony, is a feature on some telephone networks. If a calling party places a call to a called party which is otherwise engaged, and the called party has the call waiting feature enabled, the called party is able to suspend the current telephone call and switch to the new...
, and three-way conferencing. It was assigned the area codes 973 and 974 (presently not in use). In October 1992, Extelcom was granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) by the NTC. To date Extelcom is the only CMTS operator in the Philippines with a CPCN. Extelcom introduced the first cellular prepaid card in the country "Cellcard".
It has 10 MHz on the 800 bandwidth for its analog network. The NTC in September 2001 gave Extelcom 5 megahertz (MHz) frequency in the 1800 bandwidth for its planned GSM operations. They dropped their GSM plans in 2003 in favor of deploying a network based on the CDMA protocol.
Ownership
- Bayan TelecommunicationsBayan TelecommunicationsBayan Telecommunications, Inc. is a telecommunications company serving areas in Metro Manila, Bicol and local exchange service areas in the Visayas and Mindanao regions combined cover a population of over 25 million, nearly 33% of the population of the Philippines.Its operating units in the...
: 42% - Scott Sproule Cellular: 37%
- Mayon Holdings: 12%
- Others: 9%
Services
- Express Unlimited Plans
- Express Unlimited Luzon and Metro Manila
- Express Unlimited Visayas and Mindanao
- Express Unlimited National(nationwide coverage)
- Prepaid Cellcard
- Pinaka Cellcard
- Value Added Services
- Call Forwarding
- Call waiting
- Three-way Call Conference
- Express IDD
- International Roaming
- Express Tawag Center
Call Center Business Solutions
- Wireless Connection (Microwave radio link)
- This set-up provides dedicated clear channel wireless connectivity across two or more points. Extelcom utilizes its service areas via cellsites located nationwide;
- Physical Connection
- Using the facilities of Extelcom's other business partners, this set-up provides dedicated clear channel and physical (wired) connectivity across two or more locations.