In a major move to boost nationwide digital connectivity, telecommunications giants PLDT Inc. and DITO Telecommunity have signed a milestone infrastructure-sharing agreement designed to widen network reach, elevate service quality, and lower rollout costs.
The non-monetary partnership, which was made public on Friday, also loops in Smart Communications, PLDT’s wireless arm. The reciprocal arrangement establishes a framework for the companies to share chosen telecom assets, such as cell towers, in-building installations, and international submarine cable capacities.
By optimizing existing infrastructure, the operators aim to prevent redundant construction, accelerate network growth, and utilize resources more efficiently.
PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan emphasized the collective effort needed for national progress in a statement:
“Connecting the country is a responsibility that we all share as Philippine telcos,” PLDT Chairman and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan said in a statement. “This agreement reflects that, even as we compete in the marketplace, we can collaborate where it matters the most.”
This pact marks a rare team-up between the market pioneer PLDT and DITO Telecommunity, the nation’s newest major player that launched commercial operations in 2021 to challenge the established telecom landscape.
While the deal is official, both firms chose not to reveal the specific number of sites or the exact submarine cable capacity involved in the initial phase.
DITO President and CEO Eric Alberto viewed the alliance as a foundational step toward a stronger relationship between the two competitors:
“This allows both companies to deliver much better services for all our respective customers,” Alberto said, expressing hope that the partnership would eventually grow into “meaningful results” for the future of the country’s digital ecosystem.