PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. yesterday unveiled their Integrated Operations Center (IOC) in Makati City that is equipped with top-tier network monitoring and multimedia conferencing facilities.
“With our investment in the PLDT-Smart IOC, which will oversee the operations and monitor the performance of the country’s most extensive fiber infrastructure of PLDT and the wireless facilities of Smart, we are ensuring not only the topnotch experience of our customers on our network and with our services–we are also contributing greatly to helping the government realize its ambition to improve the country’s digital infrastructure, making available the best of our technologies to put the Philippines at par with the rest of Asia and the world,” said Mario Tamayo, PLDT senior vice president.
At the heart of the 24/7 IOC is a 30-meter-wide video wall displaying various network dashboards which enables PLDT and Smart’s network teams to immediately identify areas affected by service outages, and proactively reach out to impacted customers, especially in the event of disasters and calamities.
The IOC also features leisure and sports facilities, a fully stocked clinic, collaborative spaces as well as sleeping quarters to foster work-life balance for PLDT and Smart’s network personnel and bolster the PLDT Group’s capability to keep operations running even in the event of lockdowns.
PLDT and Smart’s investment in the IOC is aligned with the Group’s commitment to be at the forefront of innovation in the country.
Recently, PLDT also unveiled the country’s biggest data center, Vitro Sta Rosa, and inaugurated the Jupiter Cable System, which is the fastest cable system between the Philippines and the US and Japan. Both facilities help strengthen the country’s position as the next hyperscaler hub in the Asia-Pacific region.
With the PLDT-Smart IOC monitoring the operations and performance of PLDT’s extensive fiber infrastructure and Smart’s wireless facilities across the country, the PLDT Group aims to contribute greatly to helping the government realize its ambition to level-up the country’s digital infrastructure, putting the Philippines at par with the rest of Asia and the world.
The establishment of the IOC is part of the PLDT Group’s continuous investments in its network, having spent P518.5 billion for the last 10 years up to 2021. Network-related initiatives made up the bulk of the P89 billion spend for 2021.
Capital expenditure guidance for 2022 is P85 billion. – Myla Iglesias
