PT&T boosts digital push

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (PT&T) will test 5G fixed wireless broadband  soon “on a proof of concept” basis to strengthen its digital push.

PT&T said the company was allocated 200 MHZ of high band spectrum by the National Telecommunications Commission, which will   undergo proof of concept on 5G fixed wireless access use cases.

5G technology is the next generation of wireless connectivity, offering faster speeds and more reliable internet connections.

PT&T currently has a network reach of 13,500 fiber kilometers in high-growth areas and covering almost 40 percent of the country’s total population.

Last year, the company forayed into the IT services space, offering accessible, enterprise grade solutions to complement its connectivity portfolio.

“We are now benefiting from having spent the past two years transforming both PT&T’s operations and product offerings to be relevant in the digital age. This makes us even more resilient during these times as the requirement for high speed internet and digital services becomes a priority,” PT&T president and chief executive James Velasquez said.

PT&T holds a 25-year franchise which allows the company to establish, maintain, and operate both wired and wireless telecommunications systems for domestic and international communication in the country.

Major telco players PLDT and Globe have each started the commercial deployment of their 5G services, with plans to expand to more key areas  in the coming months.

– Richmond Mercurio

Third telco player Dito Telecommunity, which intends to launch commercially its network by March next year or earlier, has said its 5G offering would be “superior” than that of the incumbents.

Dito is 40 percent owned by state-owned China Telecom, which, according to the company, is a recognized global leader in 5G.

NOW Telecom, which is one of four cellular mobile telephone service licensees in the country along with Smart, Globe, and Dito, is also setting the stage for its 5G network rollout.

The firm last June bared plans to spend $713 million as it embarks on a five-year 5G fixed wireless access business plan.