PLDT Inc. is embarking on a major project to deploy over 600 kilometers of additional submarine fiber links to boost connectivity in Luzon, particularly in the southern Luzon provinces of Sorsogon, Quezon, Albay and Occidental Mindoro, as well as in parts of Visayas, such as Samar and Aklan.
The submarine fiber optic cables will replace the telco's old domestic fiber optic network (DFON) links and enhance the resiliency of its network by providing additional new fiber routes.
Recently, representatives from PLDT and NTT World Engineering Marine (NTT WE MARINE) inspected the loading of the submarine cables onto the sea vessel “Subaru”, which was docked in Bauan, Batangas.
This took PLDT a step closer to deploying this fiber to the seabed as additional submarine fiber links to improve connectivity in Luzon and some parts of the Visayas.
Once finished, the project will fiber up Lubang island in Mindoro, Semirara island in Antique and Burias in Masbate, for the first time.
Eventually, PLDT will be able to offer fiber-to-the-home services to customers in these areas and enhance the Long Term Evolution (LTE) ang 5G mobile network services of its wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications, Inc., in the islands.
In addition, the project will fortify existing aerial cables with underground inland cables, essential in ensuring network resiliency in typhoon-prone provinces.
"We continue to upgrade and expand our fiber network to serve as many Filipinos as possible and enable their pivot to digital in the new normal--powering hybrid workplaces, e-commerce, online banking and distance learning even in remote islands," remarked Mario G. Tamayo, Head of Technology at PLDT and Smart.
The project also ensures that PLDT's network services stay available in the event of fiber breaks, he noted.
This deployment of submarine fiber links is part of the PLDT Group’s sustained investments in their network.
Network-related initiatives made up the bulk of the telco's ₱89 billion spend for 2021, bringing its total capex spent over the last 10 years to ₱518.5 billion.