I don't think so. Its just a mere connotation. All PSTN & PLMN providers here have to interconnect with PLDT to access other internal operators and also foreign network operators. Its just that set-up na ang BACKBONE ni PLDT kaya all they have to do is maki-ride na lang sa transmission network nya.

You can say same rates, same plan...... but entirely different in terms of network and services quality. 16M+ SMART subscribers will attest to that. ;)