PLDT promises super fast internet using regular telephone lines

Telco giant PLDT Inc. wants to deliver high-speed internet via regular phone lines as it ramps up its presence in the fixed-line broadband segment, which it views as the next industry battleground.

PLDT said in a statement Monday it would initially spend P2 billion to roll out the technology in different areas in the country within three years.

According to PLDT, it would be a “hybrid” fiber-based broadband technology that would be deployed to deliver high-speed internet to office buildings and homes.

The telco said most office buildings and residential towers are wired internally with copper, adding that “it is difficult and costly to re-wire these structures.” This technology would “sidestep” that re-wiring process.

“For PLDT, these hybrid technologies offer a way to take full advantage of the company’s extensive telephone network in order to deliver fiber-powered broadband services,” PLDT said in a statement.

It only said over 1,600 buildings are being lined up for 2018 and 2019. It did not provide further details.

It said successful trials of two advanced hybrid fiber technologies, one by KT Corporation (formerly known as Korea Telecom) called “GiGa Wire” and the other by Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. called “G.fast,”have been completed. PLDT said both are capable of providing data speeds of up to 600 to 700 Mbps per user, depending on the length of the local copper loop.

“Our initial plan calls for deploying Giga Wire and G.fast solutions in over 500 buildings in different parts of the country next year. This number will be split between residential and office buildings. But this is just the start,” PLDT chief revenue officer Ernesto R. Alberto said in the statement.