In a company statement, PLDT Home said its fiber services are now available in parts of San Francisco, Poro and Tudela, providing residents with connectivity that can support online learning, remote work, digital transactions and local businesses.
The expansion is part of PLDT’s efforts to narrow the digital divide by extending its network to communities where access to reliable fixed broadband has been limited.
Island connection
“Expanding into Camotes Island is about more than extending our network footprint. It is about helping close a connectivity gap that can limit access to opportunities,” said PLDT Inc. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer Menardo “Butch” Jimenez Jr.
“By bringing reliable fiber connectivity to island communities, PLDT Home is providing families with the digital infrastructure they need to participate more fully in today’s digital economy,” he added.
Located off Cebu’s eastern coast, Camotes is known for its white-sand beaches, caves and cliff-jumping spots and has developed into a tourism destination for travelers looking for alternatives to more crowded destinations.
Improved internet connectivity could also help tourism establishments, entrepreneurs and other local businesses promote their products and services to a wider market, communicate with customers and process transactions online.
For households, a more reliable connection can give students better access to educational resources and allow workers to communicate or work from home. It can also improve access to online banking, government services, telehealth and e-commerce platforms.
Digital access
Residents in areas covered by the expansion can subscribe to PLDT Home Fiber Unli All 1499, which provides unlimited fiber internet with speeds of up to 200 Mbps.
The plan also comes with 63 Cignal channels, HBO Max Standard, unlimited landline-to-landline calls and calls to five nominated Smart or TNT mobile numbers, as well as 9GB of Smart mobile data monthly.
Subscribers can share the monthly mobile data allocation with up to three nominated Smart or TNT numbers, extending connectivity beyond the household.
PLDT Home said expanding fiber access could particularly benefit home-based entrepreneurs and small businesses that increasingly depend on digital platforms to reach customers, market products and services, and manage payments and other transactions.
Local rollout
PLDT Home is working with local government units and community partners in San Francisco, Poro and Tudela to introduce its fiber services and reach prospective subscribers.
The rollout includes community visits and information booths at the Agora Public Market in San Francisco, RBC Business Center near Poro Port and an area beside the Tudela Municipal Hall.
The expansion is also expected to create local income opportunities, with PLDT Home tapping community-based agents and partners to assist residents applying for fiber services.
PLDT said the Camotes expansion forms part of the group's broader push to extend the benefits of digital technology beyond major urban centers and connect more Filipino communities to its network. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
