PLDT Inc. has deployed more submarine cable links to expand its fiber connectivity in Southern Luzon and Visayas.
This will bring much-anticipated fiber connectivity to Burias Island in Masbate, Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro and Semirara Island in Antique, PLDT said.
The fiber connectivity will improve the existing fourth generation/Long Term Evolution (4G/LTE) service on the island and later provide 5G. PLDT said this will also soon provide residents, businesses and communities in Burias Island fiber-to-the-home for the fastest internet connectivity.
The fiber connectivity is also expected to help PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. ensure network resiliency in the Southern Luzon area, where typhoons, other natural calamities and man-made accidents regularly cause destruction and service interruption.
“This is part of PLDT’s major project with technology partner NTT-WEM to deploy additional submarine fiber links to improve connectivity in Luzon, particularly in the southern Luzon provinces of Sorsogon, Quezon, Albay and Occidental Mindoro, and some parts of Visayas, such as Samar and Aklan,” said Meinardo Opiana, PLDT and Smart head for transport planning and engineering.
“The project involved laying over 600 kilometers of submarine fiber optic cable and corresponding inland domestic fiber links,” added Opiana.
The PLDT Group has continuously invested in its network which made up the bulk of the P89 billion capital expenditure (capex) spent last year. This brings total capex spent over the last 10 years to P518.5 billion. The capex guidance for 2022 is P85 billion.
PLDT said this particular deployment further expands its fiber infrastructure — the country’s largest at 803,000 kilometers as of end-March 2022. This fiber infrastructure also supports Smart’s mobile network, which has 76,600 base stations nationwide, providing 3G, 4G/LTE and 5G to customers from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi. – Myla Iglesias
