PLDT Expands Fiber Network in Parts of Southern Luzon and Visayas

Major telecommunications firm PLDT Inc. continues to improve the country’s connectivity after it expanded its fiber services to cover major islands in Southern Luzon and the Visayas region. PLDT, along with its wireless communication arm Smart, deployed submarine cable links in Burias Island in Masbate, Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro, and Semirara Island in Antique — a first for these localities.

This move will boost the telco’s existing 4G/Long Term Evolution (LTE) service in the aforementioned islands. It also sets up the possibility of providing 5G services down the line. The expansion enables residents and businesses to benefit from faster internet connectivity. Moreover, natural calamities and other accidents often cause service interruptions on these islands. Utilizing submarine cable links will, likewise, make PLDT-Smart’s network more resilient.

“Fiber-powered connectivity is essential to the post-pandemic next normal,” highlighted PLDT-Smart Head of Technology Mario Tamayo. “With fiber available in these areas, we equip more Filipinos with improved connectivity they can use to work in hybrid workplaces, to study remotely, to engage in the digital marketplace, and to avail themselves of other services on the internet, such as online banking and online shopping.”

The initiative forms part of PLDT’s project with its technology partner NTT-WEM. It involves laying over 600 kilometers of submarine fiber optic cable as well as corresponding inland domestic fiber links. PLDT’s primary goal is to enhance connectivity throughout the country. This covers the Southern Luzon provinces of Sorsogon, Quezon, Albay, and Occidental Mindoro, alongside certain parts of Visayas, such as Samar and Aklan.

In 2021, PLDT’s ₱89 billion spendings was mostly allocated for network-related initiatives. With this, the firm’s total Capex spend has reached ₱518.5 billion over the last 10 years. PLDT’s Capex guidance for 2022 is ₱85 billion. Following this recent deployment, the telco’s fiber infrastructure now spans 803,000 kilometers.

Source: Manila Bulletin