The Philippines’ biggest telecom services provider by subscribers, PLDT Inc., is setting aside more than PHP58 billion (USD1.1 billion) for capital expenditure projects in FY 2019, with a specific focus on developing its fibre-optic and wireless networks. The telco, which includes mobile units Smart Communications and Digitel (Sun Cellular), invested a similar sum last year as it strives to insulate itself ahead of the launch of the much-anticipated New Major Player (NMP) – aka the ‘third telco’ – Mislatel.
PLDT chairman and president Manuel Pangilinan told reporters that the CAPEX requirement had been presented to the board late December 2018, noting: ‘We’re going to push the buildout of 4G. You’ve seen the latest OpenSignal report. We’re number one in terms of speed and we’re almost equal with competitors in terms of coverage. Big push on FTTH and fiberisation of our legacy copper cables.’ Despite the advent of Mislatel, Pangilinan remains optimistic about the outlook for PLDT this year.