PLDT bolsters digital highway in Mindanao

PLDT Inc. is completing three major IT-related projects in Davao, as a part of efforts to bolster its network infrastructure and presence in Mindanao.

In a statement, PLDT said the projects were: its fourth cable landing station, a state-of-the-art Innovations Laboratory (Innolab) and its eighth data center, which would be the first to be built in Mindanao.

“These projects will greatly expand PLDT’s network capacity and quality of services which will benefit industries in Visayas and Mindanao, and enable them to participate in the emerging gigabit society,” PLDT chief revenue officer and ePLDT president and CEO Eric Alberto said in the statement.

“We have accelerated the necessary investments that will help build and strengthen the regions’ enterprises, and enable them to become, not just locally, but globally competitive, armed with new digital tools and innovative solutions,” he said.

PLDT’s fourth cable landing station in Davao links Mindanao to PLDT’s three existing international gateways located in Nasugbu, Batangas; Bauang, La Union, and Daet, Camarines Norte.

PLDT has the most number of cable landing stations in the Philippines.

“This will significantly improve the flow of international data traffic to and from Mindanao, providing better resiliency and reduced latency for enterprises particularly those that demand bandwidth-heavy data services such as the BPO industry,” the company said.

In the meantime, the Davao data center will provide hosting, colocation, and business continuity services for enterprises.

PLDT already operates seven data centers in the Philippines, with the most recent addition in Makati City.

PLDT plans to expand the number of its data center facilities to 10 by next year, with a rack capacity of over 9,000, the largest in the country.

The state-of-the-art Innolab facility is the latest venue where the PLDT Group’s innovative products and business solutions are tested and showcased to consumers. It serves as a training hub for ICT services and offers technical assistance for clients.

“PLDT aims to enable businesses nationwide with globally competitive services and solutions anchored on an evolving digital environment. We hope to develop and nurture that digital hub in the southern Philippines to further serve the need for a stronger and more robust digital infrastructure,” Alberto said.