Business World

Smart WiFi partners with Google

- Denise A. Valdez

SMART WiFi has teamed up with tech giant Google to deliver free, high speed internet services in public locations around the Philippine­s, according to parent company PLDT, Inc.

In a statement on Monday, the telecommun­ications giant said the Smart WiFi service will be expanded by adding more hubs in more locations utilizing its existing nationwide infrastruc­ture.

“We are happy to partner with Smart WiFi in giving more Filipinos access to new opportunit­ies and learning tools through the internet — empowering them in a meaningful way,” Google Philippine­s Country Manager Kenneth Lingan said in the statement.

PLDT said it hopes the partnershi­p with Google will help speed up the digital transforma­tion of the country.

“Technology is a great equalizer of opportunit­ies and as the country’s premier ICT (informatio­n and communicat­ions technology) and digital services provider, we are constantly looking for ways to innovate and uplift the everyday experience­s of our customers,” PLDT-Smart Chief Revenue Officer and ePLDT President and CEO Ernesto R. Alberto was quoted as saying.

Jovy I. Hernandez, Senior Vice-President and Head of PLDT-Smart Enterprise Business Groups added, “It is an honor for us to join hands with an esteemed technology leader who shares in our vision of empowering our citizens with connectivi­ty... [T]his milestone signifies our unwavering commitment to prompt the next chapter of digital transforma­tion for the country.”

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a stake in

BusinessWo­rld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. —

 ?? PLDT, INC. ?? PLDT, Inc. executives recently visited the Google headquarte­rs in Silicon Valley to sign the Google Station deal.
PLDT, INC. PLDT, Inc. executives recently visited the Google headquarte­rs in Silicon Valley to sign the Google Station deal.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines