Telco sector cited as key driver for eco growth

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s strong telecommunications sector has been cited as a key infrastructure industry that will boost economic growth in the coming years.

Citing a paper published by the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines, economist Dr. Bernardo Villegas told the recent Asia CEO Forum that the telecoms sector is one of the major infrastructure industries along with airports, power, roads and rail, seaports, and water that will help the domestic economy grow seven to 10 percent in the next 10 years.

PLDT executive vice president Eric Alberto agrees that telecommunication companies like PLDT are enablers of businesses that support economic growth and contribute to nation-building.

“PLDT’s current infrastructure is strategic in providing primary telecommunications and technology solutions support to critical industries like business process outsourcing (BPO), financial services, tourism, mining and electronics manufacturing,” Alberto said.

Enhancement of PLDT’s digital fiber optic network for both the domestic route and international route has consistently undergone projects for expansion and redundancies. PLDT has also acquired several international Ethernet certifications, and the consolidation of its services portfolio to deliver end-to-end ICT solutions.

Recent partnerships have resulted in the strengthening and growth of PLDT’s network reach, while broad convergence initiatives enabled the company to provide improved services.

“All our programs are reflective of PLDT’s forward thinking, recognizing the various potentials for economic development in the years ahead and ensuring that PLDT is capable of providing for changing market needs,” Alberto said. “We have consistently worked with other industries to consistently deliver their ICT requirements and to ensure that these industries will have the capacity and resiliency they require to sustainably compete in the global market.”