Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) company, the country’s leading telecoms and digital service provider, began the fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) facilities in General Santos City – becoming the first “Fibr City” in Mindanao.
With the FTTH facilities, the people of GenSan can now experience fiber-fast internet for their growing community. In partnership with the GenSan local government, PLDT’s FTTH project will help improve the SOCCSKSARGEN’s data connectivity needed by the people and different establishments in it. It will provide fast internet for the provinces that are part of the said region including South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sarangani, and Sultan Kudarat
“GenSan’s robust export industry and burgeoning medium to large enterprises, as well as its growing and diverse population, fits the profile of a Fibr City,” said PLDT FVP and Head of Home Business Oscar Enrico A. Reyes Jr.
With the PLDT Home Fibr, GenSan will have the means to evolve with and learn the ways of the digital times. They have the platform, the power and now a very fast and powerful connection that will provide them access to different knowledge and opportunities on the Internet.
With this, GenSan residents can experience fast and equal upload and download speeds up to 1 Gbps. They can have access to some of the known entertainment providers like iflix, Netflix, Fox+,and iWant TV and other subscriptions for as low as P1,899 per month.
They can also add home monitoring system and security devices like the Fam Cam, Fam Zone and the multi-functional kiddie gadget Smart Watch.
“We are excited and proud to be among the first Fibr cities of PLDT. We are looking forward to this continued partnership that will bring world-class internet service to homes and businesses in our city,” said GenSan City Mayor Ronnel Rivera.
However, PLDT’s plan of providing fast and reliable FIBR connection doesn’t end in GenSan. It aims to provide the whole country with the strongest and fastest connection. They also completed the first ever “Fibr City” and FTTH facilities roll-out in Toledo City, Cebu.
“PLDT envisions to increase the number of Smart Homes and Fibr Cities nationwide which will result in the Philippines being a Smart Nation,” said PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.
PLDT’s FTTH network already has 2.8 million homes by the end of 2016 but they aim to take it higher, hoping to reach 4.4 million by the end of 2017. When the number is achieved, millions of Filipino families all over the nation will have access to the ultra-fast internet connection of PLDT.
Of course, improvements and upgrades are always part of the company’s plan. This is why hybrid fiber technologies such like Huawei Technologies’ G.fast are deployed to boost data speeds over existing copper lines, reaching 600-700 MBPS. They are also aiming to turn their PLDT FIBR subscribers to “smart homes” owner by the end of 2018, providing them both the FTTH services and the “Smart Home” services as well.
Over P300 billion ($6 billon) has been invested by the PLDT group during the last decade, all focused in building and improving their fixed and wireless network. Throughout the development, PLDT possesses the country’s most extensive fiber transmission and distribution infrastracture (150, 000 kilometers of fiber optic cables) that supports all their network’s services, both fixed and mobile.