Cable & Wireless Plc is hoping to break into the domestic Filipino telephone market and expand its international telephone interests there by way of a new company, Digital Telecommunications Philippines, capitalised at $10m and owned 40% by Cables, 60% by local interests: the company is pitching for a franchise to operate as a public utility in competition with the present monopoly holder Philippine Long Distance Telephone, and promises to invest $130m over five years and install 57,000 new domestic subscriber lines, as well as offer international telecommunications at 15% to 20% less than current prices if it gets a franchise.
