PLDT earmarks $10-M for int’l fiber optic project

MANILA, Philippines - PLDT Inc. is earmarking $10 million in additional investment for the international fiber optic project, Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE1) cable system, as part of efforts to enhance quality of internet services to customers.

The telco is also studying making further investments in other international cable links.

PLDT chief revenue officer Eric Alberto said part of the company’s network improvement activities is making further investments in low latency state-of-the-art international cable facilities.

“Initially, we are looking at $10 million for the AAE1,” he said, adding the investment could be made by the middle of the year.

The 25,000-kilometer undersea cable network system that will connect Asia, the Middle East, East Africa and Europe, is being undertaken by Hong Kong-based PCCW Global, PLDT and other partner firms.

Alberto said the telco is still choosing which of its four existing cable landing stations would be linked to the AAE1 in Hong Kong.

PLDT has existing cable landing stations in Davao; Nasugbu in Batangas; Bauang in La Union, and Daet in Camarines Norte.

Aside from the AAE1, Alberto said PLDT is also looking to invest further to expand the Asia-America Gateway (AAG) which links Southeast Asia to the US.

“We have to consistently invest in to lower latency, more efficient new cable systems to be able to improve the quality of services,” Alberto said noting the increasing usage by customers particularly of international data.

“More and more of us are using data and our preference is not local data,” he said.