Now Telecom

Now Telecom Company, Inc., commonly styled as NOW Telecom, is a Philippine telecommunications company operating under the broader Now corporate group. Its activities have included broadband and fiber-optic communications, particularly through the Now Fiber Air service, which has been aimed at upper-income residential customers and commercial users in Metro Manila. The company has also sought to expand into nationwide mobile, 5G, and fixed-wireless communications, although its regulatory position and ability to launch a full commercial network have been contested and have changed over time. The business originated on March 26, 1992, when it was established as Satellite Paging Systems Philippines after receiving a congressional franchise to operate radio-paging services. That franchise was amended in 1995. The company later operated as Next Mobile Incorporated, or NMI, and became associated with the Velarde Group, led by Mel Velarde, a former Sky Cable executive. In 2005, Cashrounds acquired a partial interest in NMI. Mel Velarde subsequently took control of that shareholding, and Cashrounds changed its corporate name to Information Capital Technology Ventures, Inc. in 2006. NMI received provisional authority to operate cellular mobile telephone services, but it did not initially obtain cellular frequencies. In 2013, Information Capital Technology Ventures was renamed Now Corporation. The telecommunications operations were subsequently repositioned under the Now Telecom identity, replacing the Next Mobile name. Now Telecom, Now Corporation, and News and Entertainment Network Corporation formed the unified Now Network service structure. Now Corporation later became the principal corporate owner associated with Now Telecom. The company pursued a larger role in the Philippine telecommunications market during the late 2010s and 2020s. In 2018, its parent decided not to participate in the selection process for the country's third major telecommunications provider, although the company's congressional franchise was renewed that year. Now Telecom then announced partnerships or cooperation arrangements involving SK Telecom of South Korea, Viettel of Vietnam, and Nokia of Finland for the development of 5G broadband capabilities. A United States Trade and Development Agency grant and a subsequent 2023 agreement supported plans for a nationwide standalone 5G mobile and fixed-wireless network, with commercial operations initially discussed for 2024. The company's claim that it was becoming the Philippines' fourth major telecommunications provider generated regulatory and market controversy. The National Telecommunications Commission granted a provisional authority and cellular mobile telephone service license in September 2020, but NTC and the Department of Information and Communications Technology stated that the authorization alone did not make Now a major nationwide competitor because the company lacked sufficient frequencies and network scale. The Philippine Stock Exchange later penalized Now Corporation for what it considered a misleading presentation of the communications arm as a major player. Now Telecom continued to dispute that characterization. Frequency allocation became the focus of proceedings before the Anti-Red Tape Authority. In 2021 and 2022, ARTA issued decisions favorable to Now Telecom concerning the assignment of 220 MHz of spectrum, including paired frequencies in the 1.9 GHz range and spectrum in the 3.6–3.8 GHz band relevant to 5G mobile and fixed-wireless services. The decisions were challenged by the NTC and DITO Telecommunications. In 2023, the NTC renewed a mobile operating license and awarded access to the 800 MHz band, while the company continued seeking additional frequencies. In March 2024, the Supreme Court rejected Now Telecom's application to become a third major telco player, and an April 2024 ruling dismissed petitions involving the company's disqualification from a 3G frequency process. On April 4, 2025, the NTC revoked the company's operating license, citing noncompliance with regulatory and operational requirements and unpaid regulatory fees reported at approximately PHP 3.57 billion. The company's ultimate operating status after that action requires further verification.

Now Telecom traces its origins to Satellite Paging Systems Philippines, established on March 26, 1992, after Congress granted it a franchise to operate radio-paging services. The franchise was amended on March 1, 1995. The business later operated as Next Mobile Incorporated, commonly abbreviated NMI or Next Mobile, and became connected with the Velarde Group under the leadership of Mel Velarde, a former Sky Cable executive. Cashrounds acquired a partial interest in NMI in 2005. Velarde later assumed control of the company's shareholding interest, while Cashrounds changed its corporate name to Information Capital Technology Ventures, Inc. in 2006. NMI obtained provisional authority to provide cellular mobile telephone services, but it did not secure cellular frequencies at that stage. In 2013, Information Capital Technology Ventures was renamed Now Corporation. The telecommunications business was subsequently branded Now Telecom, replacing Next Mobile. Now Telecom, Now Corporation, and News and Entertainment Network Corporation were associated with the unified Now Network service. The company's early commercial focus included broadband and fiber-optic communications. Under the Now Fiber Air brand, it targeted upper-income residential and commercial areas in Metro Manila. It later sought to expand from a localized broadband provider into a national mobile and 5G operator. In 2018, Now Corporation declined to submit a bid to become the country's third telecommunications provider, although the company's congressional franchise was renewed. The company then pursued partnerships with international technology and telecommunications companies, including South Korea's SK Telecom in 2019, Vietnam's Viettel in 2020, and Finland's Nokia in late 2020, for the development of 5G broadband services. On September 14, 2020, the National Telecommunications Commission granted Now Telecom provisional authority and a cellular mobile telephone service license. Now presented the authorization as a basis for becoming the Philippines' fourth major telecommunications provider. NTC and the Department of Information and Communications Technology rejected that description, emphasizing that the company lacked enough assigned frequencies and infrastructure to compete with Smart, Globe, and Dito at comparable scale. The dispute became an important part of the company's public profile. In February 2021, the Philippine Stock Exchange penalized Now Corporation for what it regarded as an insufficiently supported and misleading description of the communications arm's market position. Former DICT official Eliseo Rio Jr. also criticized the public claim. Spectrum allocation remained central to Now Telecom's proposed 5G strategy. In March 2021, ARTA ordered the NTC to approve the delayed assignment process. In February 2022, ARTA affirmed a favorable decision involving 220 MHz of spectrum, including paired frequencies at 1970–1980 MHz and 2160–2170 MHz and spectrum between 3.6 and 3.8 GHz. The NTC, DITO Telecommunications, and other parties challenged aspects of the decision, but ARTA denied motions for reconsideration in March 2022. The US Trade and Development Agency provided grant funding for the company's 5G project in December 2022. In January 2023, the agency and Now Telecom formalized an agreement concerning a nationwide standalone 5G mobile and fixed-wireless network, with commercial service discussed for 2024. On September 29, 2023, the NTC renewed a license associated with the company and awarded the 800 MHz band, with the permit received on October 2. Now Telecom continued to seek access to additional spectrum needed for its proposed network. Legal and regulatory setbacks followed. In April 2024, the Supreme Court's Second Division dismissed petitions by Now Telecom, Bayan Telecommunications, Multi-Media Telephony, and AZ Communications concerning NTC decisions that disqualified them from a 3G radio-frequency process. On March 10, 2024, the Supreme Court had also rejected Now Telecom's application to become a third major telco player. On April 4, 2025, the NTC revoked the company's operating license, citing noncompliance with key regulatory and operational requirements and unpaid regulatory fees reported at PHP 3.57 billion. The company's present operational status, including any appeal or subsequent administrative action, is not established by the supplied material.

• 2025

  Operating license revoked

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  The NTC revoked Now Telecom's operating license over cited regulatory and operational noncompliance and unpaid regulatory fees.

• 2024

  Supreme Court rejects major-telco application

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  The Supreme Court rejected the company's application to become a third major telecommunications provider.

• 2023

  Nationwide standalone 5G agreement

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Now Telecom and the US Trade and Development Agency sealed an agreement supporting a nationwide standalone 5G network.

• 2023

  800 MHz permit received

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Following an NTC license renewal, the company received a permit associated with the 800 MHz band.

• 2022

  ARTA affirms 220 MHz frequency decision

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  ARTA affirmed a decision concerning spectrum for mobile and fixed-wireless services, including 5G-relevant bands.

• 2020

  Provisional mobile authority granted

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  The NTC granted Now Telecom provisional authority and a cellular mobile telephone service license.

• 2020

  Technology partnerships with Viettel and Nokia

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Now Corporation announced arrangements with Viettel and Nokia for its proposed 5G broadband services.

• 2019

  Partnership with SK Telecom

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Now Corporation announced a partnership with South Korea's SK Telecom concerning 5G broadband rollout.

• 2018

  Franchise renewed; third-telco bid not pursued

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Now Corporation did not submit a bid to become the country's third major telecommunications provider, while the company's congressional franchise was renewed.

• 2013

  Parent renamed Now Corporation

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Information Capital Technology Ventures was renamed Now Corporation, and the telecommunications operations were later repositioned under the Now Telecom brand.

• 2006

  Cashrounds changes its corporate name

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Cashrounds became Information Capital Technology Ventures, Inc.

• 2005

  Cashrounds acquires a partial interest

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Cashrounds acquired a partial stake in the company then operating as Next Mobile.

• 1995

  Paging franchise amended

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Congress amended the company's operating franchise.

• 1992

  Company founded as Satellite Paging Systems Philippines

  [1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  The company was established after receiving a congressional franchise to operate radio-paging services in the Philippines.

A Philippine alternative telecommunications provider focused on broadband, fiber-optic connectivity, and planned 5G mobile and fixed-wireless services, with particular historical emphasis on Metro Manila and underserved or premium residential and commercial segments.

• Broadband and fiber-optic communications

  Now Fiber Air

  Now Fiber Air is the company's branded broadband and fiber-optic communications offering. It has been associated with service to upper-income residential customers and commercial areas in Metro Manila, forming the clearest established consumer and business service described for Now Telecom.

• 5G telecommunications

  Standalone 5G mobile and fixed-wireless network

  Now Telecom proposed a nationwide standalone 5G network combining mobile telecommunications and fixed-wireless broadband. The project was supported by international technology discussions and a US Trade and Development Agency agreement, but the supplied material does not establish that the planned commercial network was fully launched.

• 2025

  Operating license revoked over regulatory noncompliance

  The NTC revoked Now Telecom's operating license, citing failures to meet critical regulatory and operational requirements and unpaid regulatory fees reported at PHP 3.57 billion.

  Source

• 2021

  Dispute over claim to be the fourth major telco

  Now Telecom described itself as the Philippines' fourth major telecommunications provider after receiving provisional authority. The NTC and DICT disputed the description because the company lacked sufficient frequencies and infrastructure, while the Philippine Stock Exchange penalized Now Corporation for presenting the claim without sufficient basis.

  Source

Read more

• 2023

  Pursues nationwide standalone 5G networkStrategy

  Background

  Now Telecom sought to establish a national mobile and fixed-wireless network after receiving regulatory and institutional support for spectrum and project development.

  Action taken

  The company entered an agreement with the US Trade and Development Agency to deploy nationwide standalone 5G infrastructure.

  Aftermath

  The company's major-player application was rejected in 2024, and its operating license was revoked by the NTC in 2025 according to the supplied reference.

  Source

• 2020

  Builds international 5G partnershipsStrategy

  Background

  Now Telecom needed technology and network partners for its planned 5G broadband expansion.

  Action taken

  Now Corporation announced arrangements with Viettel in October and Nokia in December 2020.

  Aftermath

  The company subsequently pursued spectrum assignments and a nationwide standalone 5G network.

  Source

• 2019

  Partners with SK Telecom for 5G developmentStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to broaden its role beyond broadband and prepare a 5G telecommunications offering.

  Action taken

  Now Corporation entered a partnership with South Korea's SK Telecom for the rollout of Now Telecom 5G broadband services.

  Aftermath

  Further proposed partnerships and regulatory proceedings followed, but the supplied material does not confirm a full commercial 5G launch.

  Source

• 2018

  Declines bid for third major telco selectionStrategy

  Background

  Now Corporation considered participation in the Philippine government's process to select an additional major telecommunications provider.

  Action taken

  The company decided not to submit a bid, while its congressional franchise was renewed.

  Aftermath

  Now Telecom later continued pursuing mobile and 5G ambitions through regulatory applications and international partnerships.

  Source

• 2024

  Supreme Court rejects Now Telecom bid for major-telco status[1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The Supreme Court rejected Now Telecom's application to become a third major telecommunications provider.

• 2023

  US government agency supports Now Telecom 5G project[1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The US Trade and Development Agency and Now Telecom entered an agreement concerning deployment of a nationwide standalone 5G mobile and fixed-wireless network in the Philippines.

• 2022

  ARTA affirms frequency decision for nationwide mobile service[1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  ARTA affirmed a decision involving 220 MHz of frequencies, including paired spectrum around 1.9 GHz and spectrum in the 3.6–3.8 GHz range for mobile and fixed-wireless applications.

• 2021

  ARTA orders action on Now Telecom frequency assignment[1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The Anti-Red Tape Authority directed the National Telecommunications Commission to act on Now Telecom's delayed frequency assignment request for a planned 5G rollout.

• 2020

  Now Telecom receives provisional mobile operating authority[1]Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The National Telecommunications Commission granted Now Telecom provisional authority and a cellular mobile telephone service license. Regulators disputed the company's characterization of itself as a fourth major telecommunications provider because it lacked sufficient frequencies and network scale.

1. 1Now Telecomen.wikipedia.org