Telecoms giant PLDT Inc. and its mobile arm Smart Communications have signed a USD28.5 million partnership agreement with Huawei Technologies to upgrade the Philippine operator’s wireless service delivery platforms. The move – part of a much bigger PHP50 billion (USD1 billion) capital expenditure programme for 2018 to improve both its fixed and mobile network infrastructure – will enable PLDT’s Smart, Sun Cellular and TNT mobile brands ‘to become much more agile, efficient and resilient in developing and delivering a growing array of digital services,’ said chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan in a press statement.
The group’s chief corporate services officer Ray Espinosa noted that under the 15-month agreement the China-based manufacturer will upgrade Smart’s online charging platforms and electronic loading for pre-paid subscribers: ‘This involves consolidating similar applications for different brands under one system and streamlining business processes through a unified platform and simplified processes,’ he added.