The industry-wide alliance of the country’s leading telecommunications operators is seeking to expand its membership to include government and law enforcement agencies amid rising threats to network infrastructure, primarily cyberattacks and theft.

In a statement, Pangilinan-led PLDT Inc. said the National Telecommunications Security Council (NTSC) is evolving from an industry group into a full-fledged national defense body.

NTSC is comprised of security professionals representing telco firms such as Smart Communications Inc., Globe Telecom Inc., DITO Telecommunity Corp., and Converge ICT Solutions Inc.

Smart Chief Operating Officer (COO) Anastacio Martirez said the threats facing the industry require a national scope, with strong proactive intelligence sharing and policy alignment.

"Let us remember that no single entity, government or private, can address these threats alone,” said Martirez.

“But together, through trust, coordination, and shared responsibility, we can build a more secure digital future for the Filipino people,” he added.

NTSC aims to bolster its ranks with law enforcement agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

It is also aiming to formalize into its fold the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Adding members beyond the telecom industry is seen as enhancing greater collaboration for law enforcement and emergency response.

NTSC stated that this will be developed through the creation of a coordination framework for threat response and regular consultation schedules to establish better response protocols in the event that a critical infrastructure is facing a threat.

PLDT COO Butch Jimenez said strengthening safeguards for the country’s network infrastructure is more than just a corporate responsibility, as he emphasized that it is a “cornerstone of nation-building.”

“At PLDT, we commit to work hand in hand with our industry peers and government partners to secure our telco infrastructure and ensure a robust and resilient network, which is vital to economic progress,” said Jimenez.

PLDT’s Asset Protection and Security Risk Governance (APSRG) team spearheaded the formation of NTSC in 2021 to provide mutual protection for telco infrastructure nationwide.

PLDT and its wireless unit, Smart, have since developed asset protection initiatives to advance the Philippines' sustainable development by securing its critical telecom infrastructure. This ultimately ensures uninterrupted connectivity for homes, businesses, education, and emergency response.