PLDT and Smart Deploy New Technologies, Strengthen Partnerships to Boost Connectivity in GIDAs

Connecting an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands requires multiple solutions to ensure that the benefits of faster, more reliable, and more affordable internet can reach more Filipinos, enabling hybrid work set-ups, online learning, and the delivery of e-government and e-healthcare services in remote and far-flung areas.

To achieve this, leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc (PLDT) and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc (Smart) continued to invest in network infrastructure and innovative technologies, as well as tightened their collaboration with government and industry stakeholders to overcome the challenges of connecting remote and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).

"Our mission is simple: to deliver better internet that costs less and reaches more Filipinos, especially those in far-flung areas. By working hand-in-hand with our partners in government, we believe we can roll out a stronger, more resilient network faster and more efficiently," said Menardo G. Jimenez, PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Network Head and PLDT representative to the Presidential Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC).

Last year, PLDT and Smart explored innovative connectivity solutions to overcome deployment challenges in hard-to-reach locations. PLDT tested Radisys point-to-multipoint broadband wireless access technology, which delivers fiber-like speeds over-the-air through a single base node connecting to remote radio nodes in customer premises. The company also piloted Google’s Taara laser communication technology, delivering fiber-like speeds using beams of light instead of undersea or underground cables, to sites like Talim Island in Rizal, Dipaluda in Isabela and Bagong Pag-asa in Quezon City. Smart has also partnered with Lynk Global to enable direct-to-device satellite-powered mobile connectivity, allowing users to send SMS and use apps like WhatsApp even when cell services are unavailable.

Collaboration is key

Aside from leveraging these technologies, PLDT and Smart also worked closely with government agencies, local government units, and PSAC to streamline permitting processes, remove bottlenecks in network builds, and fast-track network rollouts, ensuring that connectivity reaches communities that need it most.

Boosting their public and private collaborations to ultimately benefit millions of Filipinos who depend on strong, stable connections for work, learning, and safety, PLDT and Smart have further solidified their partnership with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), National Electrification Administration (NEA), tower companies, and other industry stakeholders, and continued to lead discussions highlighting Executive Order No. 32 and other regulatory policies aimed at accelerating network deployment and improving digital access nationwide.

With PSAC and other major fixed-line telcos, PLDT is also boosting connectivity for state universities and colleges in support of the government's efforts to enhance the delivery of education across the country and is in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Under "Konektadong CHED", PLDT envisions to expand connectivity to 220 SUCs by the first quarter this year, with the goal of reaching all 555 SUCs nationwide, benefiting between 5,000 to 10,000 learners and teachers per institution.

Smart is also supporting the government's Bayanihan SIM initiative, which aims to bring mobile data connectivity to GIDAs. Under this DICT-led program, Smart is providing free TNT SIM cards pre-loaded with 25GB of data per month for 12 months, fully subsidized by the government, beneficiaries identified by the Department of Education. The initial waves of distribution were successfully held in June last year in Masinloc, Zambales province at Bani National High School – Coto Annex, Coto Elementary School, and Mandaloy Elementary School, and in December at Unidos Elementary School in Nabas, Aklan.

PLDT’s investments in innovating to enhance its network are aligned with the Group's broader thrust to deliver leveled-up services to customers nationwide. It also supports PLDT and Smart's commitment to national development through strategic partnerships that expand digital access and enhance the delivery of essential services, such as education. This also contributes to the PLDT Group’s endeavors to help the country achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) including SDG 4 - Quality Education, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities.