PLDT, DITO Telecommunity seal interconnection deal

Pangilinan-led PLDT and telco startup DITO Telecommunity inked a deal for the construction of a transmission facility that will enable their customers to connect on each other's network.

PLDT and DITO logos

PLDT, DITO to construct transmission facility

In a disclosure Tuesday, PLDT Chief Revenue Officer and Smart Communications President and CEO Al Panlilio said this was necessary "to make sure that our customers are able to communicate", especially that the third telco player is set to commercially launch next month.

During this pandemic, technology has been a lifeline for our customers so we want to make sure that our connectivity is solid in helping our fellow Filipinos and the entire nation during these critical times. We thank DITO for this partnership and I am looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship, Panlilio said.

According to PLDT, the interconnection facility will deliver the intercarrier requirements of DITO which will benefit all fixed and wireless subscribers of both companies by enabling them to communicate and connect to all the services needed.

An interconnection deal is important to ensure that subscribers of PLDT can communicate with customers of DITO Telecommunity, and vice-versa.

The interconnection hub is expected to be completed by "end-March," PLDT noted.

DITO Telecommunity Chairman and CEO Dennis Uy expressed gratitude to PLDT for pursuing the said agreement.

Being chosen as the country’s third player, DITO knew from day 1 that in order for us to deliver our commitment to the Filipino, we needed to work hand-in-hand with the pioneers of the telco industry like PLDT, Uy said.

Yesterday, the National Telecommunications said the third telco player passed the technical performance, citing findings from independent auditor R.G. Manabat and Co.

For the first year, DITO promised to provide 27 megabits per second of speed, covering 37 percent of the Philippine population.

See also: DITO subscribers will receive calls or texts from other networks within March or April

In its technical audit, DITO's coverage reached 37.48 percent or 37,845,315 based on the 2015 national census population of 100.983 million.

Currently, PLDT operates the most expansive fiber optic network among local ISPs reaching over 429,000 kilometers.

See also: Globe, DITO ink interconnection deal for wireless subscribers!

Source: PSE