PLDT to expand in US, Europe

HONG KONG – A wholly-owned subsidiary of dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) is looking at further expanding its presence in the US and Europe as it bids to sustain a double-digit growth in revenues from its overseas operations.

PLDT Global Corp. president and chief executive officer Alex Caeg said in a press conference that the company is looking at expanding to the East Coast in the US after a successful launch in the West Coast last June.

Caeg said the PLDT Global is set to expand in the East Coast next year where between 65 percent and 70 percent of the 3.4 million Filipinos in the US are based.

PLDT Global through PLDT US Mobility launched Smart World Mobile last June through partnership T-Mobile to ensure nationwide coverage on the fastest long term evolution (LTE) network in the US. 

With the partnership, subscribers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, San Diego, and Las Vegas would be connected to the largest mobile subscriber base of about 70 million subscribers of Smart Communications Inc. and Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. (Sun Cellular) in the Philippines.

He pointed out that the company would initially focus in developing the market in the West Coast as California alone is bigger than the Philippines before expanding to the East Coast such as Hawaii next year.

“Given sufficient experience, we will eventually deploy in the East Coast some time next year. It depends I the phase of the development in the market,” he added.

PLDT Global has existing mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) deals with operators in eight countries including Macau, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Guam, Taiwan, United Kingdom, US, and Singapore.

PLDT Hong Kong Ltd. has partnered with CSL Hong Kong, PLDT Malaysia Sdn Bhd. with Celcom Axiata Berhad, PLDT Singapore Pte Ltd. with M1 Singapore, PLDT United Kingdom with Vodafone UK and Teleena, and PLDT US Mobility with T-Mobile.

Caeg revealed that the company is also looking at further expanding its presence in Europe as it is currently looking at Spain.

PLDT Global vice president and group head global operations John Palanca said the company has a total of about 250,000 subscribers

PLDT Global, according to Caeg, is looking at a double-digit growth in revenues this year after booking revenues amounting to about $50 million last year.

He pointed out that the growth would come from the newly launched services in the US.

He added that PLDT Global would continue to offer innovative products and services to customers as it is currently looking at launching money remittance services to allow Filipinos abroad to send money to their loved ones in the Philippines.

Caeg said the company would continue to expand outside traditional telecommunications services to include value added services including multimedia, mobile TV, e-commerce through Smart Pinoy Store, e-magazines through a partnership with Summit, and e-books.

PLDT HK Ltd general manager Edith Gomez said PLDT Global would continue to expand its digital footprint after being named as the Most Innovative MVNO during the 2nd Annual International MVNO Industry Awards held in Berlin, Germany last April.