DoCoMo increases stake in Philippines' PLDT

Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo announced today it has paid JPY86.7 billion (USD816 million) to increase its stake in Filipino incumbent Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) by 6.64% to 20.03%. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database PLDT is the largest operator in the country, offering digital leased lines, high speed data transmission, high performance packet switching services and private networking, in addition to basic voice and internet services. PLDT’s fixed line affiliates and subsidiaries include Clark Telecom, Subic Telecom, Smart-NTT Multimedia, PLDT Global and Maranao Telephone. In the mobile sphere, PLDT owns the country’s leading operator by subscribers Smart Communications (including Piltel).