PLDT, Cisco build foundation for next generation Internet

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), the country’s largest telecommunications provider, announced the deployment of Cisco router technologies as a platform for its Internet protocol next-generation network (IP NGN).

This implementation, for current and future service requirements across fixed and mobile networks, will meet customer demand for high bandwidth and mobile networks that support video and collaboration by providing enhanced network capacity, high resiliency and robust IPV6 support.

PLDT is the leading telecommunications provider in the Philippines and offers the largest and most diversified range of telecommunications services across the Philippines’ most extensive fiber optic backbone and fixed-line, cellular and satellite networks.

PLDT and its wholly owned subsidiary, Smart Communications, the leading wireless services provider in the Philippines with 47.8 million subscribers on its GSM network (as of end-June 2011), has deployed Cisco CRS-3 and ASR 9000 Series routers to handle the multidirectional traffic of network and data center cloud interactions.

“PLDT is now equipped for the growth of IP-connected devices used in consumer, business, mobile and machine-to-machine environments using the Cisco CRS-3 and ASR 9000 Series core routing systems. From Internet protocol television to telepresence, PLDT will be able to address the anticipated growth in Internet traffic brought about by the surge of Internet-based video services,” said Napoleon Nazareno, president and CEO, PLDT.

Businesses today want networks capable of supporting all forms of media, as well as new wireless and wired devices. Achieving this requires building an intelligent network and integrating advanced applications into an adaptable, pervasive, and collaborative system.

The collaboration with Cisco enables PLDT and Smart to keep up with the explosion in volume, devices, speed and bandwidth while satisfying user demand for enriched experiences like online content, multi-screen experience, navigation and Web 2.0. It simplifies operations with the ability to scale and deploy new services in order to increase profits, grow revenue and attract and retain customers.

“We are entering the age of the next-generation Internet and are confident that PLDT and Smart will deliver an exciting, new array of video, mobile, data center and cloud services. This collaboration will lay the foundation for one of the most intelligent and advanced broadband network, and we would like to congratulate PLDT and Smart for raising the bar of telecommunications service in the Philippines,” said Stephen Misa, country manager for Cisco in Philippines.

According to Cisco’s Visual Networking Index (VNI) Forecast (2010 – 2015), the number of devices connected to the Internet is driving growth in global IP traffic forecast to reach nearly a zettabyte by 2015, traversing more than 15 billion devices, compelling network operators to seize growth opportunities while monetizing new services.

Through this collaboration with Cisco, PLDT and Smart will be able optimize operations, reduce expenses, and improve scalability and flexibility - all to deliver next-generation Internet experiences across all devices and locations in the Philippines.

Cisco routing technology enables enhanced productivity through increased video-based collaboration, rich-media services, optimized application delivery, and mobility, which enables businesses to accelerate decision making and collaborate in real time regardless of location. In addition, it provided integrated security, where the network becomes the point of control for preventing and responding to security threats.