Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) invested PHP8.1 billion (USD184.7 million) in its networks and services in the first six months of this year, up PHP3.3 billion (or 69%) on the corresponding CAPEX figure of PHP4.8 billion in January-June last year. The Philippine Star cites PLDT president Napoleon Nazareno as saying that as a result of the increased investment activity, the carrier has been able to expand its combined 3G/4G/HSPA+ coverage to 82% of the population, and increase Frequency Division/Time Division-Long Term Evolution (FD/TD LTE) coverage to around 1,800 base stations by 1 July. Further, Mr Nazareno added that PLDT has also extended its fibre-optic network to over 88,000km, in the process strengthening its Visayas-Mindanao fibre-optic backbone link, with the completion of the Bohol leg of the Domestic Fibre-Optic Network (DFON).
The PLDT president said that the Group is ploughing up to PHP32 billion (or 20% of its service revenue) in capital expenditure projects in FY 2014, up from PHP29 billion last year. Some of the monies will be earmarked for improving network resiliency against severe weather, while work will also continue to build out its fibre total to 90,000km, increase 3G coverage to about 92% of the population and extend its LTE footprint to 50%, up from 25% last year.