PLDT powers up International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) is providing data and voice services as well as other communications support to the upcoming International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).

PLDT said it is providing free data connectivity and enhanced network coverage in IEC offices and venues of the major Congress events being held in Cebu City from Jan.24 to 31.

The PLDT Group has installed telephone lines in the IEC offices, and supplied mobile phones and prepaid airtime load as well as data connectivity for organizers, committee heads, and the website team.

 It has also provided the bandwidth requirements of the Radio Television Malacanang which is set to have live coverage of the event.

“The IEC2016 is a milestone event not only for the Church but for the entire country, and we are humbled by the chance to be part of this. Leveraging on our combined fixed line and wireless networks, we are addressing the communication requirements of the organizers as well as the participants of this historical event,” PLDT Group chairman and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

Meanwhile, PLDT’s wireless arm Smart Communications Inc. through a partnership with Cebu-based tech startup InnoPubMedia, is offering IEC mobile app to the event’s participants.

 The IEC2016 Guide app which can be downloaded for free to mobile phones and tablets, provides comprehensive information about the Congress such as IEC’s history, the full schedule of events, messages from Church officials, and other conference-related resources and documents.

 Smart and InnoPub have also installed interactive tourism markers in heritage churches that are part of the IEC’s Visita Iglesia route for pilgrims.

 Smart has also made available to the IEC organizers Infocast, a web-based SMS broadcast and management platform for easier and faster dissemination and collection of information via text messaging.