PLDT, Nokia in advanced talks on partnership

Industry giant PLDT Inc. is close to selecting Finland’s Nokia as a partner as it ramps up services for connected devices or Internet of Things (IoT).

Through PLDT Enterprise and wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, PLDT and Nokia will launch the Smart IoT Platform, which will target businesses by 2021.

“IoT is a technological revolution with immense potential in improving the way we do things and we are finalizing a partnership with Nokia to fortify our initiatives in this space,” Juan Victor Hernandez, who heads PLDT’s enterprise business, said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Our aim is to further complement PLDT Enterprise’s already extensive solutions portfolio with the launch of this platform,” he added.

PLDT plans to expand its current LTE-based IoT offerings as the company gradually rolls out 5G, the next-generation mobile service.

It said the IoT platform was aimed at the public sector as well as transport and logistics, manufacturing, utilities and retail.

“These IoT solutions will be fully ready by 2021 but PLDT is already in discussions with enterprise clients that intend to utilize IoT technology for their operations,” PLDT said.

The platform will be powered by Nokia’s Worldwide IoT Network Grid.

In the same statement, Nokia Philippines country manager Andrew Cope said IoT would become a multitrillion-­dollar segment by 2025.

“We will continue to drive the adoption of next-­generation technologies, providing our customers with not only connectivity but solutions to maximize their IoT potential,” he said.