Section 1Sec./Art. 1

Nature and Scope of Franchise. - Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and applicable laws, rules and regulations, there is hereby granted to Islatel Corporation, hereunder referred to as the grantee, its successors or assigns, a franchise to engage in telecommunications services by installing, maintaining and operating telecommunications plants, exchanges, nationwide and/or regional transmission (backbone) network; terrestrial and microwave systems, lines, instruments, landlines; international and domestic undersea cables, stations, apparatus, telephone services; long distance toll services; international gateway facilities/services; traditional wireline telephone systems, whether domestic or international, whether directly or indirectly through networks; public calling offices (payphones); station or stations and associated equipment and facilities for international satellite communications, such ground facilities as needed to deliver telecommunications services from the communications satellite system and ground terminal or terminals and such ground facilities shall not duplicate existing facilities of domestic common carriers and grantee shall operate as a carrier's carrier; any and all types of telecommunications services available through the use of space relay and repeater stations for domestic public communications with authority to receive and transmit messages, impression, pictures, music, entertainment, advertising and signal throughout the Philippines and between the Philippines and ships at sea, airplanes and other conveyances; any and all kinds of equipment or maintenances for communications and the transmission of messages, data, video, pictures, impressions and signals; or any other means which hereafter be used for communications in their stead; and to install, maintain, operate or lease, in whole or in part, telephone lines and systems and all other systems and lines of communications, within the territory of the Philippines and with other countries and territories.