Communications & Technology

Puregold Price Club, Inc. and GCash are expanding digital payment and financial management tools for sari-sari stores, a move aimed at accelerating financial inclusion and helping thousands of small retailers modernize their operations.

Oracle shares surged nearly 8 percent on Monday as investors doubled down on a powerful Wall Street wager that the artificial intelligence boom will require vast amounts of cloud capacity and computing power. 

PLDT Inc. said Tuesday its wireless unit, Smart Communications Inc., will rely on tailored data solutions and faster 5G adoption to drive growth amid a broader industry slowdown. Moving away from standard packages, Smart now uses advanced analytics to create customized plans matched to each user’s needs and budget. Smart co-OIC Lloyd Manaloto noted this approach lets them deliver the right service at the right time, while PLDT COO Menardo G. Jimenez highlighted how targeted offers help counter slower growth.

As more businesses go digital and use AI tools, cybersecurity has become as critical as internet access itself. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which drive local jobs and economic growth, are increasingly at risk—cyberattacks targeting them have jumped as much as 325 percent, since automated threats look for weak points regardless of company size.

PLDT Enterprise has expanded its partnership with Xeleqt Technology Innovations, Inc. to deliver scalable, reliable wireless connectivity supporting the company’s growing AI-IoT ecosystem. The collaboration highlights how strong digital infrastructure drives business transformation, better efficiency, and data-led innovation.