PLDT clarifies reported NTC penalty, says Smart has yet to receive show cause order

• Courtesy of PLDT

PLDT Inc. has clarified reports of a P100,000 daily penalty against its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, saying the telco has yet to receive the show cause order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) dated Sept. 28, PLDT responded to a request for clarification regarding reports that the NTC had prepared show cause orders against Smart, Globe Telecom and DITO Telecommunity over deficiencies in mobile broadband services.

The reported NTC action would impose a P100,000 daily penalty on the three mobile network operators beginning Sept. 26 until the identified service deficiencies are fully addressed.

However, PLDT said Smart, its wholly owned subsidiary, had not received the show cause order as of the filing of the disclosure.

“We clarify that, as of this writing, Smart Communications, Inc. (“Smart”), a wholly owned subsidiary of PLDT, has not received the Show Cause Order referred to in the news article.”

PLDT said Smart is therefore not yet in a position to confirm or comment on the reported penalty, including its terms, applicability or potential impact on the telco’s business and operations.

The NTC reportedly based its action on September 2026 speed tests that showed no improvement in the mobile internet performance of the three telcos in the National Capital Region compared with initial validations conducted during the first and second quarters of the year.

READ:

NTC fines telcos P100K daily over poor mobile internet in NCR

For Smart, the areas flagged for September revalidation included Parañaque, Manila and Pasig.

PLDT said Smart will review the show cause order once it is received and respond through the appropriate regulatory channels.

The company added that it will make the necessary disclosures should there be material developments arising from the matter, in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.