PLDT Inc (PLDT) and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc (Smart) are leading nationwide efforts to safeguard the country’s critical telecommunications infrastructure, ensuring reliable connectivity and continuous customer service nationwide, in collaboration with public and private stakeholders including local government units, as well as communities.
“Protecting our infrastructure is not just about safeguarding our business operations—it is about ensuring that our customers and communities can rely on uninterrupted connectivity and technology that are essential for our country’s development within a safe and secure cyber environment,” said Atty. Roy Ibay, Vice President and Head of Regulatory at Smart and convenor of PROTECTA Pilipinas, a public-private alliance which aims to protect tech and telco infrastructure across the country.
PLDT, Smart and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) spearheaded the coalition’s launch, which also included representatives from the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunication Operators, advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines, public policy think-tank Infrawatch PH, the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, PLDT, Smart, Federation of International Cable TV Association of the Philippines, and Manila Electric Co (Meralco).
PLDT has also closely collaborated with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to ensure that fiber optic cables are not accidentally damaged during road works, especially amid road digging and excavation activities.
In addition to teaming up with Government and other industry stakeholders, the PLDT Group has also been raising awareness among customers and their respective communities to help report illegal activities such as cable theft, cable breakage and other related incidents in their areas to local authorities.
PLDT and Smart’s initiatives to champion telco infrastructure protection are closely aligned with the PLDT Group’s continuing effort to further improve the quality of customer experience nationwide. It also underscores the PLDT Group’s commitment to help the country attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly UN SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and help boost the government’s overall thrust to digitalize the nation, narrow the digital divide, and bring the benefits of the internet closer to more Filipinos across the country.
