The PLDT Group is significantly increasing its infrastructure investments in support of the government’s target to close the country’s connectivity gap by 2028, in keeping with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) under Secretary Ivan John Uy.
Eric Santiago, first vice president and head of network strategy and engineering at PLDT and Smart, emphasized corporate alignment with national digital goals through key pillars: Access, Accountability, and Aspiration. Central to this effort is the ongoing expansion of PLDT’s extensive fiber network—already spanning over 1.2 million cable kilometers and reaching 19 million homes—alongside Smart’s mobile coverage, which now reaches 97 percent of the population.
Santiago also revealed pilot testing of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services with partners like AST SpaceMobile to extend mobile coverage to remote areas.
Key investments also include:
- Enhancing network resiliency via international subsea cables,
- Expanding the VITRO Sta. Rosa hyperscale data center, the country’s largest and first AI-ready facility,
- Modernizing the network backbone to adopt advanced technologies such as AI and large language models (LLMs) for predictive maintenance and operational efficiency.
In 2025, PLDT will continue rolling out more fiber-to-the-home ports and new 5G sites, reinforcing its commitment to digital inclusion and innovation across the Philippines’ commercial and industrial landscape.
