
PLDT Inc. and wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) ramped up their nationwide network rollout after securing over 45,000 fixed and wireless permits as of Dec. 21, 2021.
"As the economy re-opens and our countrymen continue to recover from the pandemic, the demand for reliable internet connectivity only continues to accelerate," according to Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT Inc and Smart Communications President and CEO.
"Government initiatives such as the streamlining of permitting guidelines for our cell sites and fiber lines are really helpful in expediting the expansion of our network across the country " he added.
These include the recently signed JMC No. 1, Series of 2021 simplifying the permitting process for cable laying, including the erection of poles, construction of underground fiber ducts, and installation of cables and facilities along national, local, and subdivision roads, including pavements and sidewalks.
The telcos cited the initiatives of government agencies such as the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for cutting red tape.
As a result, PLDT's fiber infrastructure, extended to around 615,000 kilometers as of end-September.
This fiber network also supports Smart's 3G, 4G/LTE and 5G network, which serve 96% of the population from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi.
For its part, Smart has deployed 6,400 base stations nationwide - the country’s widest 5G network.
PLDT and Smart's network upgrades support the government’s call to elevate the quality of telco services in the Philippines.
These are likewise aligned with the PLDT Group’s commitment to help the country attain the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG #9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
PLDT and Smart are on track to meeting the 2021 full-year capex guidance of at least ₱88 billion.