Provisional authority as mobile operator
On September 14, 2020, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) granted Now Telecom a provisional authority and a cellular mobile telephone service license (which is on par with the major mobile network operators in the Philippines, Smart, Globe, and Dito), with the company claiming that with this, they are now to operate as the "fourth major telecommunications provider" in the country.[23][24][25][26] However, the officials of both the NTC and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) disputed the statement by Now for being another player, argued that they are not a "4th major player" yet and they do not have enough frequencies to compete with the major players.[27][28] Although NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios confirmed that Now is given a license to operate as a mobile network, he insisted that there are other players in the market and the country has 3 major players only (referring to Smart, Globe and Dito),[27] while the DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan repeated the statement, added that there are other 40 small players in the industry.[28] Former DICT officer-in-charge Eliseo Rio Jr. accused Now Corporation for their claim to boost their public stock.[29]
In February 2021, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) penalized Now Corporation for misleading the public investors for labeling their own communications arm as a major player with the PSE added that Now Telecom had no "sufficient basis" when it declared itself as a fourth major player.[30] Now Telecom maintains the claim that they are indeed a 4th major telecommunications player.[27]
On March 1, 2021, The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) ordered the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to approve the much-delayed assignment of frequencies the company needs for the rollout of 5G technology in the country.[31] It directed the NTC to issue the provisional authority and the concomitant frequencies sought by Its company.[32]
On February 3, 2022, The company received a favorable decision on an Omnibus Order from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) for its nationwide cellular mobile service. ARTA affirmed with finality its earlier resolution approving Now Telecom’s assign of 220MHz of radio frequencies namely, 1970MHz-1980MHz paired with 2160MHz to 2170MHz and 3.6GHz to 3.8GHz, including 5G frequencies for mobile and fixed wireless.[33] On March 31, 2022, ARTA in a resolution denied the motion for reconsiderations filed by NTC and DITO Telecommunications and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) affirmed its decision order the National Telecommunication Communications to extend the permit on Now Telecom.[34]
On April 4, 2025, the NTC revoked Now Telecom's operating license, citing failure to comply with critical regulatory and operational requirements and the firm owing P3.57 billion in unpaid regulatory fees.[35]
Fourth telco player
On September 29, 2023, NTC renewed the license to operate as one of the four mobile providers in the country which awarded the 800 megahertz (MHz) band. The company received the permit on October 2, 2023.[36] It is also planning to appeal for reconsideration to get the mobile frequencies needed to operate using 1970 megahertz (MHz) to 1980 MHz paired with 2160 MHz to 2170 MHz and 3.6 gigahertz (GHz) to 3.8 GHz ranges.[37]
In April 2024, The High Tribunal’s Second Division, in a 44-page judgment penned by Marvic Leonen, dismissed the petitions filed by Now Telecom (Next Mobile Incorporated), Bayan Telecommunications, Multi-Media Telephony Incorporated, and AZ Communications Incorporated versus National Telecommunications Commission decisions which disqualified them for a 3G radio frequency service.[38]
