Smart upgrades network in Palawan

PLDT Inc.’s Smart Communications is deepening its LTE coverage in Palawan, one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.

PLDT said in a statement on Tuesday that it was building more cell sites and expanding LTE capacity in Puerto Princesa, El Nido, San Vicente and Coron.

“The network upgrade and expansion efforts in Palawan are part of our nationwide thrust to bring the best internet service to people across the country,” Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT-Smart senior vice president for Network Planning and Engineering, said in a statement.

“By investing in our network in Palawan, we are working hand in hand with partners in connecting the islands, not just by roads, bridges and ports, but by modern communications infrastructure as well,” he added.

Palawan, which is one of the country’s top destinations, catered to 1.8 million tourists last year, mostly from South Korea and China.

PLDT also rolled out fiber broadband services for tourist and business establishments in El Nido. This allowed visitors to access crucial online services like hotel and airline booking and electronic banking.

PLDT’s fiber footprint is considered the most extensive in the country at more than 259,000 kilometers. It also supports Smart’s mobile network by providing high-capacity fiber connections for LTE base stations.

The rollout is in line with ongoing capital spending, which is expected to reach P78.4 billion this year. —MIGUEL R. CAMUS