PLDT Enterprise Business remains on growth path

Telco giant PLDT Inc.’s Enterprise Business continued to experience robust growth behind strong demand for data and digital services by more companies and government agencies.

“The thinking among business and government managers is shifting from just improving productivity to ensuring future growth and competitiveness. They see that tech is changing the rules of the game,” PLDT senior vice president and head of Enterprise Business Juan Victor Hernandez said.

PLDT Enterprise has recently signed up agreements to provide wireless connectivity services for several established and new transport network vehicle service companies.

It has also been tapped as the ICT partner for the newest business hub in Central Luzon at the newly-built business center in Nueva Ecija, which will serve business process outsourcing companies and other enterprises that are moving out to second and third-tier urban areas.

In addition, the company said there is rising interest in PLDT’s cyber security services as more companies shift more of their operations and customer services online.

Aside from private firms, local governments have been accelerating their shift to digital technologies, according to PLDT.

“This year alone, we have announced several partnerships with new client LGUs that center on digital enablement. We are also expanding the range of services offered to LGUs from safety and security to digital payments. This provides fresh proof that data and digital services are becoming core and crucial to the lives of both businesses and communities,” PLDT first vice president and Alpha head Vic Tria said.

Tria said PLDT’s ability to serve more LGUs has been enhanced by improved network reach and capacity.

As of end-June, PLDT increased the coverage of its fiber-power fixed broadband network to 5.1 million homes passed, up from four million homes passed as of end-2017, and also boosted its capacity by almost 86 percent to 1.86 million ports.

PLDT also added over 29,000 kilometers of fiber cable, increasing its fiber footprint to about 204,000 kilometers and further boosting the reach, capacity and resiliency of its fiber network.

Meanwhile, Smart installed over 3,900 new LTE base stations, boosting its total count by 45 percent to over 12,600.

The expansion has enabled Smart not only to improve its LTE coverage but also activate LTE-Advance, which offers even higher data speeds, in more areas of the country.