Telco assures cheaper, faster internet with infra migration

CEBU, Philippines - Cheaper and more flexible data or internet connection rates will be expected in the next one to two years in the Philippines once telecom giant Philippine Long Distance Company (PLDT) completes its infrastructure migration to accommodate the highly sophisticated requirement of the market.

PLDT vice president and head for SME Nation Mitch Locsin assured internet users, specially the business segment that the company is already spending and working on fixing the pressing concerns on slow and expensive internet connection in the Philippines, which is becoming a threat to businesses growth and competitiveness.

Locsin was in Cebu yesterday together with other top officials from PLDT SME Nation to hold the second leg of the BIG Talks conference series in Cebu at the Marco Polo Plaza.

He said migrating the entire infrastructure from merely a "talk and text" capable system, to a data capable framework is not an overnight transformation, not to mention it is a very expensive investment.

With the aid of PLDT and rival firm's acquisition of the 700 MHz frequency from San Miguel Corporation, the connection speed and rate concerns will soon be resolved, he said.

 He said PLDT is giving itself one to two years to perfect the infrastructure, the company or the telecom industry in general was not able to catch up with the fast change technology development in the recent years.

Unlike in other countries, that expensive infrastructure update specifically to align with updated technological requirement is subsidized by the government, the Philippines on the other hand, the telecom companies themselves are left to spend on their own for telecom infrastructure upgrade,

Before the end of this year, Locsin said the quality internet connection, particularly in the corporate segment is expected to double its quality service.

PLDT SME Nation, he said is committed to strengthen the muscle of local and micro entrepreneurs to take part of the fertile global economy by providing the right infrastructure or telecommunication tools to thrive.

 In one or two years, he said PLDT is expected to roll out products and services that would be more affordable or flexible to budget-conscious customers specifically the start-up or micro businesses.

 The 'Big Talks' conference is part of the telco giant's 'Make it Big' campaign that encourages Micro-small and medium Entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in the Philippines to take their business to the next level through technology.

This nationwide effort empowers budding entrepreneurs by helping them achieve their full potential, with useful tips from some biggest success stories in Philippine business. (FREEMAN)