PLDT, San Juan partner for cleanup of idle cables

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT Inc. has entered into an agreement with the San Juan government to remove idle wires and fix sagging cables.

The partnership is in line with PLDT’s cleanup drive, which aims to recover copper cables no longer needed as it upgrades customers to fiber.

“We are implementing the programmed preventive maintenance on the barangay level, starting with those having high trouble index and poor line condition,” PLDT-Smart network operations first vice president Debbie Hu said.

Hu said the inspection of 21 barangays in San Juan has been completed and preventive maintenance activities are underway.

PLDT’s cleanup drive, which consists of preventive maintenance activities, complies with congressional bills as well as resolutions and ordinances from local government units requiring utility companies to rid the streets of sagging cables, tilting poles and the like.

With the shift to fiber, PLDT has committed to remove its idle copper cables that have been left behind and spruce up the affected streets and barangays to create a more pleasant environment for residents.

As of last year, PLDT’s fiber optic network has a footprint that reaches 429,000 kilometers, the country’s most extensive digital data infrastructure.

“We expand the reach and capacity of our fixed and wireless networks across the country amid the challenges brought by the pandemic, in response to the surge of demand for connectivity and data,” PLDT chief revenue officer and Smart president Alfredo Panlilio said.