As part of their continued communications support for local government units and communities affected by the recent typhoons, PLDT and Smart are offering fast, secure and free, carrier-grade Smart WiFi in provincial capitols, city and municipal halls, as well as in selected high schools, colleges and universities in typhoon-affected areas in Metro Manila, and in North, Central and South Luzon.
Fiber-powered Smart WiFi connectivity is available 24/7 in key areas in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, and Quezon, which were among provinces heavily impacted by typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.
“Telecommunications is the crucial backbone to support public services, businesses, and people. PLDT-Smart is in a unique position to provide for the needs of our customers, especially during times of crisis,” said Jane J. Basas, Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Wireless Business. “We recognize the obligation that we have to connect society, and we take that to heart. We are committed to connect as many as we can, especially in these times of need.”
These include the provincial capitol of Laguna, the provincial capitol of Batangas, City Hall of Quezon City, Brgy Area 13 and Area 14 in Quezon City, City Hall of Tanauan, Bulacnin National High School, Bugtong Na Pulo National High School, Fernando Air Base Integrated National High School, Pinagtongulan National High School, Lodlod National High School, Anilao National High School, Bolbok National High School, Lipa City Science Integrated National High School, Lipa City Senior High School in Batangas;
The City Hall of Cabuyao, City Hall of Binan, City Hall of Calamba, City Hall of Sta. Rosa in Laguna; City Halls of Bacoor, Trece Martires and General Trias in Cavite; Lucena City National High School in Quezon;
The Capitol of Bulacan, City Hall of Malolos, town halls of the municipalities of Bocaue and Marilao, Bulacan State University, and its campuses in Bustos, Hagonoy and Meneses; City Hall of Cauayan and Isabela State University in Isabela; and St. Paul University Tuguegarao and Robinsons Mall Tuguegarao in Cagayan.
These Wi-Fi installations, which have a capacity of up to 1 Gigabyte per second, are the latest in PLDT-Smart’s ongoing efforts to provide communication as aid to local government units, their frontliners, and customers affected by the recent typhoons.
This is in addition to the Libreng Wifi stations and roving Wifi services already in place in typhoon-hit areas of Metro Manila, North, Central and South Luzon.
PLDT-Smart has also previously provided Smart WiFi to support the government’s COVID-19 response and is available in key COVID-19 facilities across the country, including the COVID-19 mega health facilities at the Philippine Arena, Rizal Stadium, Philippine International Convention Center, and World Trade Center, as well as in New Clark City in Tarlac and Philippine Army Gymnasium in Taguig.
The deployment of Smart WiFi is part of PLDT and Smart’s nationwide rollout and expansion of their integrated fixed and wireless networks. To date, Smart’s mobile data networks cover 96% of the Philippine population. Smart LTE and Smart WiFi are supported by PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, the most extensive in the country at 395,000 kilometers.
The PLDT Group’s investments in capital expenditures have totaled Php 432 billion from 2011 to September 2020. PLDT’s expansion efforts and investments helped the Group cope with sustained growth in data traffic when COVID-19 community quarantines commenced in March. PLDT is anticipating capex of at least P70 billion for 2020.
