PLDT to splurge on new network

Manila Times

Saturday, March 04, 2006

PLDT to splurge on new network

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. is spending nearly half of its budget this year on its next generation network (NGN) to enhance its voice and data service, PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pa­ngilinan said. Pangilinan said the company expects its fixed line capital expenditure to reach about P9 billion this year from P5.5 billion in 2005. PLDT projects that the digital subscriber line (DSL) will reach 300,000 by year end 2006, while international bandwidth capacity will expand to more than 20 Gbps in 2006 with increased Internet usage. The company is upgrading its NGN line to enhance its voice and data service offerings as well as expand its product range to include IPTV, or Iinternet protocol television. IPTV is a system where a digital television service is delivered to a subscriber using the Internet Protocol over a broadband connection. PLDT’s broadband capacity and subscribers have been doubling every year since 2002. In 2005, its broadband subscribers reached to 114,000. Its retail DSL continued to grow as broadband subscribers reached to 90,000 with another 380,000 subscribers using the firm’s Vibe dial-up Internet service. “This subscriber base is expected to increase even further as network coverage expands and new bundling schemes are introduced,” PLDT said. NTC approves units’ text promo In the meantime, PLDT has obtained the approval of the National Telecommunications Commission for the extension of the enhanced 258 text promo of its subsidiaries, Smart Communications, Inc. and Pilipino Telecommunications Inc. In a decision, NTC Chief Ronald O. Solis said the 258 enhanced text promo, which should have ended today, March 4, has been extended to April 2, 2006. --Darwin G. Amojelar