PLDT completes P1-B fiber optic expansion

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT Inc. has completed the P1-billion expansion of the domestic fiber optic network (DFON) in Mindanao, which will allow the firm to provide reliable connectivity to home and enterprise customers.

The expansion project will give additional resiliency for its transmission backbone in the region, PLDT said.

Spanning over 300 kilometers, the fiber infrastructure runs through the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur.

The fiber optic cables were installed underground to be protected from damage caused by strong winds, falling trees and utility poles.

“Our sustained network investments are part of our commitment to deliver the best quality services, particularly internet connectivity, all over the country,” PLDT chairman and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

“With the completion of this project, customers using our fixed and mobile phone networks in Mindanao will experience even more superior voice, data and multimedia services,” he said.

PLDT expects the additional resiliency to complement the boosted capacity in the DFON facilities in the area which has over 300 Gbps (gigabits per second) already installed in the local loop and is targeted to raise the capacity to 400 Gbps by yearend.

The newly installed fiber optic cables will also augment the existing network covering Cagayan de Oro to Malaybalay, Davao, Tagum, Bayugan and Butuan.

“This fiber redundancy project opens up the region for more investment and development projects that will be enabled by PLDT’s expanded network capacity, and improve the quality of services to industries and consumers located in Mindanao,” PLDT chief revenue officer Eric Alberto said.

He said the expansion would also allow PLDT to continue to stay ahead in terms of  reaching more customers with fiber optic connectivity.