Duterte offers his country's third telco role to China

Manila

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has offered China the "privilege" to be his country's third telecoms operator, his spokesman said on Monday, turning to a historic rival to break a longstanding duopoly that has frustrated consumers for years.

The Philippines' data and voice services rank among the Asia-Pacific's slowest and most intermittent, and President Duterte last year warned providers PLDT Inc and Globe Telecom Inc to shape up or face new competition.