To avoid network glitch PLDT installs 3-way fiber optic protection

CEBU, Philippines - With the installation of three-way fiber-optic connectivity in the Luzon-Visayas gateway, the Philippine Long Distance Company (PLDT) assured its subscribers of undisrupted network conectivity.

PLDT president and chief executive officer (CEO) Napoleon Nazareno made this assurance following the Visayas-wide network glitch that happened in the last few days by a rival network company.

During the sidelines of the PLDT first quarter report on its financial and operating result, video-conference held at PLDT-Mabolo Innolab, he said that PLDT, the mother company of Smart Communications have installed three fiber optic lines to re-enforce the redundancy of connectivity, in case one or two of its lines will be cut off.

“What we have done is we added lines/redundancy of fiber-optic rings connectivity in Luzon and Visayas. In the past, we only had one redundancy, meaning two fiber-optic lines. Now we have three. We are working on the links relative to these areas and re-enforcing cable and transmission rings,” Nazareno said.

Even if there is a simultaneous cut of two fiber-optic lines, Nazareno said the network will still work, “hopefully, there will be no simultaneous cuts.”

PLDT led by its chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, reported the company’s first quarter performance Monday, in the light of fiercer competition and almost saturated mobile and telecom usage in the country.

The telecom giant’s consolidated core net income only improved by one-digit notch, or one percent compared to the same quarter of last year.

Consolidated core net income registered at P10.6 billion for the first quarter of 2011, one percent higher than the P10.5 billion net income in the first three months of 2010.

On the other hand, Nazareno reported an eight percent increase of combined fixed and wireless broadband and internet revenues, with DSL revenues higher by 12 percent and wireless broadband up by five percent (including revenues from mobile internet).

Approximately 28 percent of consolidated service revenues are directly or indirectly linked to the US Dollar.

“Had the peso remained stable, the service revenue decline would have been three percent,” Nazareno said.

Wireless service revenues dipped four percent to P22.8 billion for the first quarter of 2011, compared to the P23.7 billion recognized in the same period of last year.

Excluding the impact of the peso appreciation, wireless service revenues for the first three months of 2011 would have been higher by P300 million.

Cellular subsidiary Smart Communications continues to lead the industry in terms of both revenues and subscribers, he reported.

Likewise, fixed line service revenues decreased by 10 percent to P11.5 billion in the first quarter this year, from P12.9 billion in the same period of 2010 as the strong peso impacted the business unfavorably.

An increase of three percent in service revenue of its ICT (Information, Communication Technology) business was noted, with P2.7 billion revenues for the quarter.

Nazareno also further reported the rosier outlook and good first quarter performance of its power distribution company Meralco.

The impact on the acquisition of Digitel, on the other hand, will still not be felt by consumers in the short term, as the completion of buy-out transaction is expected next month. (FREEMAN)