MANILA - State-run National Transmission Corp (TransCo) said Monday it was nearing a deal with the private operator of the country's power grid to use its facilities as the backbone for a third telecommunications firm.

TransCo had sent a draft memorandum of agreement to the National Grid Corp or NGCP to expedite the use of the grid for telecommunications facilities, said TransCo President Melvin Matibag.

The deal will signal a mending of ties between Matibag and NGCP, whose board includes Henry Sy Jr of the SM Group. Matibag had accused the NGCP of violating its concession agreement with the government by allowing carriers to use gird facilities without TransCo's consent.

"Ang suggestion ko (My suggestion) is to isolate the telco plan because that is doable. There is no question on the technicality already. We know it can be done," Matibag told ABS-CBN News.

Transco earlier expressed interest in being part of a venture to set up a third telecom firm to challenge market leaders Globe Telecom and PLDT Inc.

The NGCP meanwhile said it was eager to participate in government's plans to improve telecommunication but it doesn't agree that Transco should be party to the deal.

"If you are talking about the maximization of the broadband assets, by allowing a third party or even government through NBN (National Broadband Network), to use the available capacity for broadband that exists with NGCP, then NGCP as the concessionaire is the one to talk to," said NGCP Spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza.

Matibag said he would prepare TransCo and NGCP facilities for telecommunications use while waiting for the decision of the Department of Information and Communications Technology on the third player.

Should Transco succeed in entering the telecommunications space, Matibag said he was hoping for a large enough stake to give government a board seat.

NGCP said it was not interested in ownership and was willing to allow the use of the power grid at minimum or even zero-cost.

Both sides said they are looking to the DICT to provide guidance on the issue.