PLDT, NTT unit sign deal

PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. has sealed a partnership agreement with NTT Communications, part of Japan’s NTT Group which is also a shareholder of PLDT, to provide a new bundled service to Filipinos in Japan.

PLDT said the package called Smart World, which was launched on April 15, offered mobile Internet service bundled with free calls and remittance services. It would cater to about 240,000 Filipinos residing in Japan.

PLDT president and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said the partnership between PLDT and NTT Communications “ensures that the new service provides nationwide coverage in Japan via NTT Docomo’s extensive 3G and LTE networks.”

The prepaid service allows subscribers to choose from four monthly base plans of 10GB, 7GB, 5GB, or 3GB, all with monthly freebies. Prices start at 4,200 yen, excluding consumption tax.

PLDT EVP and head of enterprise, international and carrier business Eric Alberto said the new mobile data service was bundled with a set of “very relevant and useful services for free.”

These include a free remittance transaction of up to 100,000 yen once a month, free calls and text messages to the Philippines, and free calls to other popular international destinations.

“Our new offering empowers the digital lifestyle of Filipinos in Japan through a mobile data SIM bundled with a pocket Wifi in a monthly prepaid subscription,” Alberto said.

It also offers a free Philippine mobile number subscription which allows family members and friends in the Philippines to call and text Filipinos in Japan at Philippine rates.

“This is just the start. We shall continue to expand our portfolio of services to meet the growing multimedia requirements of our Filipinos in Japan,” PLDT JP GK general manager John Y. Palanca said.