As part of this year's P80 BIllion capex, PLDT Inc. began cable-laying operations in Dipolog City to fortify its fiber network in Mindanao.

The new segment will connect PLDT’s submarine fiber optic cable from the municipality of Zamboanguita in Negros Oriental and beef up services for Zamboanga del Norte and the entire Mindanao, according to the telco's March 10, 2022 statement.

When completed, the project will loop in more than 700 kilometers to the company’s fiber network, improving resiliency and service quality for both fixed and wireless services in Mindanao.

More businesses will profit from the network as local economies begin to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

"This submarine cable project will boost our efforts to promote digital technology, generate jobs, support livelihood and recharge our economy," Mayor Darel Dexter Uy remarked during the ceremonial cable-pulling activity at the Dipolog Boulevard.

The initiative is part of PLDT's nationwide network expansion efforts.

As of end-December 2021, PLDT’s fiber footprint has expanded to 743,700 kilometers.

This fiber infrastructure also supports subsidiary Smart Communication Inc.'s mobile network, which covers 96 percent of the population from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi.

“Expanding PLDT's fiber network through this project in Dipolog City will allow us to provide better services for our customers in Mindanao," says Benbrackie Melasa, PLDT Mindanao Head for Corporate Relationship Management.

"With this, we hope to support the growing connectivity requirements of more enterprises and businesses who are central to the economic recovery of the region," he added.