Telecom companies are accelerating network expansion to support the government’s goal to digitalize processes and provide universal connectivity across the country.
PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. president and chief executive Alfredo Panlilio said the continuous network investments are proof of the group’s long-standing commitment to provide more Filipinos access to fast, reliable and affordable internet.
“We are also prepared to assist in the government’s digitalization efforts, empowering its vision of an agile bureaucracy that is responsive to the needs of the public,” he said.
PLDT extended its fiber infrastructure to 803,000 kilometers as of end-March. The infrastructure also supports Smart’s mobile network. Smart deployed around 76,600 total base stations nationwide, supporting 3G, 4G/LTE and 5G customers.
The PLDT Group said it spent P518.5 billion in the last 10 years up to 2021. Network-related initiatives made up the bulk of the P89 billion spend for 2021. Capex guidance for 2022 is P85 billion.
Globe Telecom president and chief executive Ernest Cu said the company is at the forefront of introducing pioneering digital solutions to address various pain points in daily life, whether in personal finance, entertainment, education or healthcare.
“The administration can count on the universe of Globe’s digital solutions―from new technologies our core telco business offers to our portfolio companies in fintech healthtech, edutech and more―to provide innovative services to make its digitalization and connectivity goals a reality,” he said.
Globe is spending P89 billion this year, up 17 percent from last year’s P76 billion to expand its network nationwide.
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. co-founder and chief executive Dennis Anthony Uy also expressed support to the government’s push for digital democracy. The company accelerated by two years its target of covering 55 percent of Philippine households with fiber connectivity to 2023.
Last year, it teamed up with a foreign satellite company to provide satellite broadband connection to more than 2,000 public schools.
“We have ensured that we have the correct infrastructure in place and built our own domestic backbone and network so that world-class, resilient and high-speed pure fiber connectivity is ready for service to Filipinos nationwide. With this digital infrastructure, we are more than ready to assist the government in the efforts to achieve universal connectivity,” Uy said.
DITO Telecommunity Corp. chief administrative officer Adel Tamano said the company is aggressively building its network to address Filipino consumers’ rising demand for reliable and high-speed internet connectivity.
After over a year of commercial operations, the third telco player has established more than 5,500 towers, connecting more than 600 cities and municipalities with quality telco services.