PLDT taps Nokia for business 5G

MANILA, Philippines — Telco leader PLDT Inc. has signed the services of Nokia in providing 5G network to businesses, recognizing the evolving demands for connectivity of the corporate sector.

Nokia yesterday said it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the enterprise arm of PLDT to provide 5G services to the telco’s corporate clients.

The partnership seeks to extend 5G solutions in multiple industries, particularly manufacturing, mining and ports, to improve their customer experience and operational efficiency.

For PLDT, the move helps it expand reach in the corporate sector in line with efforts to acquire new subscribers across all segments. The leading telco in the Philippines sees connectivity as one of the determining factors that would shape industry shifts to automation.

PLDT senior vice president and head of enterprise Joseph Ian Gendrano said 5G promises users enhanced connectivity brought about by lower latency and quicker speeds.

Businesses can use these capabilities to expedite the automation of their activities.

“This means enhanced capabilities for real-time data analytics, remote monitoring and control of equipment, which are all essential for automating industrial processes and improving operational efficiency,” Gendrano said.

Meanwhile, the collaboration adds another feather to Nokia’s cap in its Philippine operations, as it also bagged a recent deal with Globe Telecom Inc.

Recently, Nokia signed a contract to replace some of the legacy assets of Globe. Nokia will provide the telco with a technology that combines fixed and wireless access, supporting the connectivity demands of postpaid and prepaid customers.

To date, Nokia has deployed 5G networks to more than 730 customers across the world, building high bandwidth and low latency solutions for several industries.

PLDT views its enterprise segment with much potential, as businesses look for new connectivity solutions that fit specific demands. PLDT grew its enterprise revenues to P12.1 billion in the first quarter, from P11.8 billion a year ago.

PLDT sources the bulk of its enterprise income from corporate data, hitting P8.6 billion between January and March, attributed to the increasing connectivity usage of business clients.