Business

PLDT sees flat gains in 2016

TAKE IT TAKE IT! - Louella Desiderio - The Philippine Star

February 1, 2017 | 12:00am

SMART EMERGENCY DISPATCH: PLDT Inc. launches Smart SOS Dispatch, a revolutionary digital emergency response mechanism that ensures effective, end-to-end incident management. SOS Dispatch uses ruggedized, shock and water-resistant (IP68) Android devices that are designed specifically for emergency situations. The solution was designed to enable small and large communities such as large-scale corporations, local government units and even university campuses and bolster their public safety answer points and emergency response systems. In photo during the launch are (from left) Mitch Locsin, VP and head at PLDT SME Nation; Eric Alberto, chief revenue officer at PLDT-Smart; Jovy Hernandez, FVP and head of Enterprise Group at PLDT-Smart; and Vic Tria, VP and head at PLDT Alpha.

MIKE AMOROSO

MANILA, Philippines – Telco and digital services provider PLDT expects flat growth in revenue for 2016, its chief revenue officer Eric Alberto told reporters yesterday.

“The gains from home and enterprise are offset by the pressures and declines in both wireless consumer and international business,” Alberto said.

Alberto attributed the decline in wireless revenue as well as international business to the shift of consumers to apps which can be used for communicating, from voice calls or text messaging.

PLDT’s consolidated revenues reached P171.10 billion in 2015, up slightly from P170.84 billion in 2014.

As of end-September, PLDT’s consolidated revenues amounted to P125.39 billion last year, down two percent from P127.87 billion in 2015.

For this year, Alberto said the aim is to be able to mitigate the issues surrounding the wireless consumer business, as well as continue the growth in the home or fixed-line and enterprise business in order for the group to have positive performance.

“The target really is for us to be able to stabilize the disruption in our wireless consumer and manage the international business. Equally important is we continue the encouraging growth rates and the progress we are doing both in the home and the enterprise business pillars and then giving out more business relevant solutions,” he said.

In line with supporting growth of the enterprise business, PLDT yesterday launched Smart SOS Dispatch, an emergency response solution which ensures effective, end-to-end incident management.

The solution which can be used by local government units (LGUs) as well as firms and universities, is a comprehensive mobile solutions package combining Smart Communications Inc.’s robust network coverage with the Genaker IP-based PTT (Push To Talk) and NowForce emergency response application, for rapid, long distance and high-speed communication between the command center and first responders.

SOS Dispatch uses ruggedized, shock and water-resistant Android devices that are designed specifically for emergency situations.

With the solution, the entire emergency reporting, response and recording process becomes more reliable as the NowForce cloud system instantly gathers all necessary information reported by a caller to a command center and sends to all concerned responding units in near-real time.