PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications Inc. are set to distribute nearly half a million free subscriber identification module (SIM) cards to cover 170 remote areas across the country by yearend.
This is part of their contribution to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s P5-billion “JuanSIM ng Bayan” initiative to connect underserved communities, the companies said.
Under the initiative, the government will distribute a total of 4.2 million SIM cards—each with 25GB of data—to 510 remote locations, including schools and government offices.
The program, in partnership with major network operators, is expected to benefit around 7 million Filipinos.
PLDT chief operating officer Butch Jimenez, representing chairman Manuel Pangilinan at the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), emphasized PLDT’s commitment to bridging the digital divide.
“PLDT has long prioritized connecting underserved communities, most especially schools and universities,” Jimenez said in a statement on Monday.
“A SIM card can open doors—to learning, to livelihood, to connectivity, and to a better future,” Smart chief operating officer Anastacio Martirez said. “This initiative reflects our commitment to making technology accessible to every Filipino, and to make every Filipino thrive in a digital world no matter where they are.”
Since 2022, PLDT and Smart have deployed 1,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in 220 public higher education institutions across 60 provinces and have supported younger learners through the School-in-a-Bag program, benefiting over 116,000 students.
For over a decade now, they have also been promoting the Department of Education-endorsed Central Visayan Institute Foundation-Dynamic Learning Program, a teaching method used in public schools to enhance science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning in primary and secondary schools, special education institutions, alternative learning systems and disaster-hit areas, PLDT and Smart said.
In addition, PLDT said it is also expanding its mobile and internet services to around 200 sites this year bringing fiber and wireless solutions to hundreds of remote communities.
