PLDT keeps lead in fixed broadband

MANILA, Philippines - PLDT Inc. maintained its leadership in fixed broadband as it saw a double-digit growth in the number of subscribers in the first six months.

PLDT said in a statement, its consumer group PLDT HOME saw the total number of subscribers grow 14 percent year-on-year to reach 1.3 million from January to June.

The latest figures show PLDT is one of the few telcos in the world which continues to grow its fixed line business amid challenges posed by over-the-top players and an increasing shift by consumers to mobile devices.

“One of our significant successes is PLDT HOME’s continuous growth for five consecutive years now with its unmatched digital products, innovative services and compelling content,” PLDT HOME operations head Oscar Enrico Reyes Jr. said.

Among PLDT HOME’s recent offerings is the Smart Watch which enables parents to keep track of their children.

The Smart Watch likewise allows children to take photos and play music. When paired with the Telpad tablet or with a smart phone, they can also receive notifications, calls, and text messages.

Reyes said the telco currently provides the most number of home entertainment services running on broadband PLDT HOME DSL and PLDT HOME Fibr.

For the first-half of the year, PLDT Group’s consolidated capital expenditures reached P20 billion, 44 percent higher than last year’s level as it continued to invest in high-speed data infrastructure such as fiber-to-home facilities for its fixed-line network, and on 4G or LTE expansion for its mobile network.

“As we strengthen our data infrastructure, we also make it easier for our customers to adopt web-capable devices such as the Telpad, FamCam, and the TVolution Stick as they start to live the digital life,” Reyes said.

The all-new Telpad is a tablet that can control home appliances through wifi and infrared as well as the FamCam, which is a home monitoring security camera that transmits live footage to mobile devices.

The TVolution Stick which is made available via PLDT’s partnership with Intel and Microsoft, is a device that turns an ordinary TV into a personal computer.

“In the coming months, we will unbox more new services and solutions that will delight people and enable them to change their lives,” Reyes said.