PLDT Inc. has lowered its capital expenditures guidance by roughly 13 percent this year to achieve the telco’s free cash flow target by 2026.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Danny Yu, PLDT’s chief financial and risk management officer, said the 2025 capex guidance ranges from P68 billion to P73 billion, compared with P78.2 billion in 2023.
This year, PLDT will invest in new cell sites, upgrade its home fiber ports, expand focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and network advancements, and modernize its network and IT infrastructure.
“Just like our competitor, we just want to also achieve a positive free cash flow by next year” Yu said.
PLDT reported P32.5 billion in net income in 2024, up 21 percent from P26.8 billion a year earlier, driven by strong mobile and data businesses.
“Our 2024 results highlight PLDT’s resilience and the continued demand for reliable connectivity. But our intention is to use this as a benchmark for even better performance in the coming years,” said PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan.
“The telco landscape is evolving quickly, and we will work non-stop to innovate, improve our services, and exceed customer expectations,” Pangilinan added.
PLDT said consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) grew 4 percent to P108.5 billion from P104.3 billion.
EBITDA margin remained steady at 52 percent despite pressures from rising costs, which were tightly managed, PLDT said.
Telco core income, excluding the impact of asset sales and losses from Maya Innovations Holdings, reached P35.1 billion, up 2 percent from P34.3 billion.
PLDT reported that Maya has achieved profitability in September 2024 driven by continued financial inclusion with a record 5.4 million bank customers, reflecting a 71 percent year-on-year increase.
It recorded 1.6 million borrowers, por nearly twice as much as the previous year’s figure.
“There are countless challenges and opportunities over the horizon — among them are AI, big data, and the transition to a completely digital native workforce,” Pangilinan said.
“PLDT intends not just to survive the future, but to shape it. As the world evolves, the formula for success remains the same: to be bold, hardworking, and open to new ideas,” he added.
Pangilinan said they will continue to harness technology in doing their part “in the grand task of nation building, and to improve the lives of Filipinos.”
