PLDT Inc. is deploying 125,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables in the country this year—its highest ever deployment for any given year—as it anticipates higher demand for broadband given the current health situation.
Joachim Horn, next generation technology solutions advisor of PLDT, said there are three main reasons why the group is investing heavily in developing fiber lines in the country.
“One, of course, is the very high number of home installs. Second, is the massive investment and increase in backbone fiber to connect more islands and provide more capacity. Third is the continuous roll out of international capacity,” he said in a recent press briefing.
According to PLDT SVP Menardo G. Jimenez the group expects to “exceed 100,000 monthly average installations” of home fiber solutions this year. “The extensive nationwide fiber rollout in 2020, along with increased installations, helped serve the increasing demand from customers for connectivity for work-from-home, online learning and streaming. The lockdowns brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic led to unprecedented demand for home broadband services,” he said.
Currently, PLDT has the most extensive fiber network in the country with 429,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables spread across the islands. This network has enabled the company to cover 48 percent of all cities and municipalities in the Philippines.
“PLDT’s massive investment in its fiber backbone, strengthening the connections across the Philippine islands, is a critical enabler for our customers to enjoy the best experience on our fixed and mobile services,” PLDT Head of Network and Technology Mario G. Tamayo said.
In December, PLDT said it plans to spend as much as P92 billion in capital outlays in 2021 to meet the “surge in demand for data” and heed the government’s call to “elevate” the local telecommunications industry and deliver services that meet global standards.
Alfredo S. Panlilio, the company’s CFO and the president of subsidiary Smart Communications Inc., said his group is increasing its capital expenditures (capex) by as much as 25 percent in 2021 to expand both its fixed and wireless networks.
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