PLDT-Smart eyes North America, Middle East markets

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. are exploring the possibility of offering their mobile services in North America and the Middle East by entering into partnerships with operators in these regions.

PLDT Global president Al Panlilio told The STAR that they are now exploring North America and Middle East as the next leg of the PLDT Group’s international expansion. This is done by entering into mobile virtual network operation (MVNO) agreements with foreign telcos, allowing PLDT and Smart to offer their services abroad by utilizing these foreign operators’ infrastructure. PLDT-Smart and the foreign telco share in the profits from these foreign operations.

Singapore’s Mobile One (M1) and PLDT Singapore have just entered into a strategic partnership to provide prepaid mobile services to the sizeable Filipino community in the region. The mobile services, targeted for launch in the first quarter of next year will be marketed under the Smart brand by PLDT Singapore.

Smart and PLDT Global first ventured into the MVNO arrangement in Hong Kong which allowed Smart to offer its mobile services to the huge Filipino community there without investing in network buildup.

In Singapore, Smart will use M1’s network and operational infrastructure to offer voice and SMS or text messaging services to the estimated 130,000 Filipinos working in Singapore. It will also offer value-added services such as Filipino-centric contents and mobile commerce services that will meet the needs of the Filipino community in Singapore.

According to MI CEO Neil Montefiore, the partnership will enable M1 to serve a very specific segment of mobile customers by leveraging on the unique competitive advantage that PLDT and Smart enjoy within the Filipino community.

"Leveraging on the Smart brand and the good understanding of the communication needs of the Filipino community, PLDT Singapore will be able to offer a suite of products and services that are tailor-made to appeal to customers.

PLDT Singapore will, of course, be strongly supported by the excellent network and operational infrastructure provided by M1," he said.

For his part, Panlilio said PLDT Global and Smart will bring their respective strengths in addressing the growing community needs of the offshore Filipino communities. "We are confident that our mobile services in Singapore will be a perfect fit for our OFWs. Partnership with M1 definitely strengthens our position to provide excellent service as we will utilize M1’s infrastructure," he pointed out.