PLDT Inc. will resume the expansion of its fixed and wireless networks across the country as the lockdown eases.
“Due to the restrictions during the lockdown, our crew couldn’t really move around. A lot of checkpoints, a lot of barangays and communities did not allow our crew to go around. Also a primary concern at the start of the epidemic was the safety of our employees, as well as the safety of our customers,” Alfredo Panlilio, PLDT chief revenue officer and Smart Communications Inc. president and chief executive officer, said in statement.
“As the situation improves, little by little we’ll be able to pick up on the plans we have to continue to expand our fixed and wireless networks,” he added.
Panlilio said PLDT’s hefty investments in network expansion over the past several years have put it in a good position to meet the increased demand for data connectivity and digital services.
“Over the last five years, we have spent P260 billion in capex, and that has made us very capable of serving our customers during this pandemic. Our investments in our network have paid off, we continue to deliver good customer experience,” he said.
“In the end, our objective really is to serve our customers, make sure their experience is good. We have sustained that during these very stressful times,” added Panlilio.
As of end-March, Smart has increased the number of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) base stations to 26,000, up 6 percent from end-2019 and 60 percent more than end-2018. PLDT said its fiber infrastructure, which supports Smart’s network by providing high-capacity links to LTE base stations, is now at 338,500 kilometers nationwide, 5 percent more than end-2019 and up nearly 40 percent from end-2018.
In April, Smart further increased the capacity of its LTE network by reallocating its assigned 1800 megahertz frequency from 2G to 4G/LTE. As a result, 3,785 2G base stations of Smart were converted into LTE base stations, providing additional capacity for its LTE network.
Meanwhile, PLDT said the digital solution for health, learning, work and entertainment will be major pillars of the “new normal.”
Panlilio said customers’ need for these online services will continue even as quarantine restrictions are relaxed and people begin to return to their offices and places of work.
The company expects data traffic to shift back to offices and central business districts as people gradually return to their workplace, he added. On the other hand, many companies have signaled their intention to adopt flexible work arrangements, including work from home.
