PLDT targets greater online presence for MSME

MANILA, Philippines – The enterprise arm of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) wants to get more micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) online as it aims to grow revenues generated from providing solutions to businesses this year.

Mitch Locsin, PLDT vice president and head of PLDT Smart SME Nation said in a briefing it is necessary for MSMEs to go online in order to grow their businesses.

Of the one million registered MSMEs in the country, he said only one percent have online presence.

PLDT Smart SME Nation helps MSMEs grow by providing solutions to allow them to establish and build their presence online.

Locsin said getting more MSMEs to utilize solutions from PLDT Smart SME Nation and set up their presence on the Internet would support the aim of PLDT’s enterprise arm to achieve higher revenues this year.

“We grew 13 percent (in revenues) in 2015. We want to grow higher than last year,” he said.

To encourage more MSMEs to avail of its solutions and set up their websites, PLDT Smart SME Nation is set to hold TechIsland, the biggest tech conference targeted for the sector on April 22, at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.

Locsin said the event is expected to gather 2,000 MSMEs to learn about the new solutions to be launched by PLDT Smart SME Nation to help deal with the changes brought by disruptive technologies being introduced in different industries.

PLDT Smart SME Nation is set to roll out 10 to 15 solutions including big data analytics, to cater to MSMEs during the event.

Those interested to attend the event may register for free at www.techisland.ph.

PLDT, the country’s biggest telecommunications service provider, had a total wireless subscriber base of 68.9 million, consisting of over 3.9 million wireless broadband subscribers, and about 65 million cellular subscribers as of end-2015.