BRITISH telecom giant Vodafone “appeared to be interested” in becoming the country’s third telco player in the country, Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said on Wednesday.

Diokno noted that he, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia and Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez met with Vodafone officials when they were in London, the United Kingdom, to attend the Philippine Economic Briefing from September 24 to 28.

“We went to their headquarters, and we had a discussion of our interest to introduce the third party in a duopolistic market, and so they raised serious questions,” he told reporters.

However, Diokno quickly clarified that there is still no categorical expression of interest from Vodafone, but noted the company wants to “come in a big way.”

“They can join with someone else or maybe they can participate in the selection of the new major player,” he added.

Diokno also said they told Vodafone there is a pending measure to amend the country’s Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL), allowing up to 100-percent foreign ownership in Internet business.

The 11th FINL has already been submitted to the to the Palace and is already up for President Duterte’s signature.

With Vodafone’s capacity and ability, Diokno also did not rule out that Vodafone will still be able to come in time for the selection of the third telco player by December. On Tuesday the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said the deadline for the submission and opening of bids is on November 7.

After the memorandum circular on the selection process becomes effective on October 6, the invitation to bid will be held on October 7 while prospective bidders can purchase bidding documents on October 8.

Based on the memorandum circular released by the DICT, the third telco player will be selected based on its highest committed level of service or its financial and technical capability to efficiently deliver communication services to the public. The selection criteria include national population coverage, capital and operating expenditures, and minimum average broadband speed.

Some companies who have expressed interest to join the bidding are Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Co., Now Corp., Converge ICT Solutions, TransPacific Broadband Group International Inc. and Easy Call Communications Philippines.

As for the foreign investors, those who have expressed interest include China Telecom, Surya Telecom of India, LG Uplus Corp. of South Korea, KDDI Corp. of Japan and Viettel Group of Vietnam.