PLDT eyes big growth in Internet subscribers

Telecommunications giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) is targetting a 230-percent increase in the number of narrowband Internet subscribers, as well as a 100-percent increase in broadband Internet subscribers, this year compared to last year.

According to PLDT vice-president Joaquin San Agustin, the company aims to more than triple its narrowband or dial-up Internet subscribers (under the name Vibe) from 60,000 as of end 2002 to 200,000 by yearend.

In the case of broadband digital subscriber line (DSL), San Agustin said they are expect to double the subscriber base, from 10,000 as of end-2002 to 20,000 by end-2003.

PLDT also announced yesterday that it is embarking on an aggressive marketing campaign in order to boost the information technology sector in the country and to meet company targets.

San Agustin said that right now, PC penetration in the Philippines is relatively low with an estimated 12 percent of households owning personal computers, with only one-third of them with Internet connection.

The company has teamed up with the largest IT companies in the Philippines and the biggest PC distributors nationwide to come up with the lowest priced bundled PC and Internet service packages, making these much more affordable to a greater number of Filipinos.

San Agustin said there is a world of opportunity to increase the relevance and adoption of IT in the Philippines. "We want to introduce very affordable PCs bundled with our Internet services that will increase PC ownership and Internet subscription in the country," he said.