PLDT Enterprise, Victory Liner set to transform public transport experience

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It’s all systems go for PLDT and Victory Liner: (L-R) Benedicto T. Perez , AVP and CRM Head of FMCG, Transport and Logistics at PLDT Enterprise; Jhonel G. Encinares, Data Management Officer at Vectras Inc; Ding V. Villarino, VP and Head of Enterprise Relationship Management at PLDT Enterprise; Ramon C. Ponce Jr., Relationship Manager at PLDT Enterprise; Marivic H. Del Pilar,  President and General Manager at Victory Liner Inc.; Yasmin Anne C. Santos, IT Manager at Victory Liner Inc.; and Corinne F. Zablan, AVP and Business Head of FMCG, Transport and Logistics at PLDT Enterprise    

   

In an effort to revolutionize long-haul journeys in the country, one of the largest provincial bus operators Victory Liner, and PLDT’s B2B arm PLDT Enterprise, announced its latest partnership that will make the bus travel experience of public commuters safer and more enjoyable.  

   

Through this partnership, PLDT Enterprise will be providing hundreds of Victory Liner buses with Wi-Fi connectivity, ensuring a better experience for all their passengers – an average of over 40,000 daily customers nationwide. Regular passengers, especially those taking Victory Liner’s busiest routes such as the nearly 250-kilometer Baguio-Cagayan Valley trip, will benefit from this newly launched service made accessible for their trips.  

   

“Even while in transit, we all want to use our time wisely. That’s why we couldn’t be happier to partner with Victory Liner and enable them with robust connections that allow their customers to stay connected and productive while in transit,” says Mitch Locsin, First Vice President and Head of Enterprise and International Business Groups of PLDT and Smart. “This is especially beneficial to those experiencing long commutes. For Victory Liner passengers, there are instances when they stay for four to 14 hours on the road, so the Wi-Fi service will be a welcome amenity to their bus ride.”   

   

The partnership becomes much more significant as public transportation remains to be a critical driver for economic and social growth for the country. Implementing means to modernize the country’s transport system, the government, through its various transport agencies, has introduced measures such as digitalization programs making commuting safe and more convenient, especially after the pandemic.    

 

One of Victory Liner’s efforts to digitalization includes its partnership with digital financial services platform Maya to implement safe, convenient cashless transactions, and online bookings for its passengers.  

 

“We believe that our Filipino commuters deserve better services, better experiences overall especially since they are doing this, commuting to work, going home to their families, every day,” says Ding Villarino, Vice President and Head of Enterprise Relationship Management at PLDT Enterprise. “The partnership with Maya, and now with PLDT Enterprise, allows us to continually provide innovative solutions to everyday problems. This is part of our thrust at PLDT to contribute responsibly and sustainably towards nation-building.” 

 

PLDT and Victory Liner are further exploring long-term solutions to improve safety and experience of passengers of mass transportation.     

 

“There is going to be a surge in revenge travel. Because of this, a lot of customers would want to travel long haul, and with that, comes the improvement of our transportation system,” shares Marivic Del Pilar, President and General Manager at Victory Liner, Inc. “At the end of the day, we just want the best experience for our passengers. With Maya, PLDT, and Smart, we are able to add more value to the service we provide from ease of payment and booking of tickets to comfort and connectivity on-board our buses,” she adds. “We look forward to long-term partnerships with them, to grow together and move further in providing innovative solutions to the growing needs of our passengers.” 

   

The PLDT Group has since been at the forefront of supporting enterprises and growing contribution to the economic development of the country through technology. For years, it has extensively invested in building massive ICT infrastructure to serve the growing demand for digital services and improving the experience of its fixed and wireless customers.  

  

For more information, visit https://pldtenterprise.com/.     

    

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Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort Delivers Stronger Connections with PLDT Enterprise

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PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of largest fully integrated telco in the country, recently partnered with one of the most premiere resorts in Cebu, the Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, to deliver robust and reliable connections for their customers and their hotel experience.

From left to right: Oamar B. Tabiliran, PLDT Enteprirse Business Head CRB 1 Visayas; Arnold Dosdos, PLDT Enterprise Relationship Manager; Kent C. De La Calzada, PLDT Enterprise AVP & Head, Corporate Relationship Management - Visayas; Marvin Villaruz, AppleOne Mactan Inc. Director of Sales and Marketing; Leif Bajarias, AppleOne Properties Inc. Chief Financial Officer; Danish Khan, AppleOne Mactan Inc. Director of Operations; Dottie Wurglercronin, 

AppleOne Mactan Inc. General Manager

“At PLDT and Smart, we are all about providing customer-focused digital innovations. That is why we are honored to provide world-class Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort with unparalleled connectivity that is at par with their mission of giving a luxurious experience to its guests,” says PLDT Customer Relationship Management Head, Kent De La Calzada.

 

“One of the highlights of the partnership is that the resort is now powered by PLDT’s Dedicated Internet Access service, or iGate–a service that provides businesses with guaranteed bandwidth as well as reliable and managed connectivity to the Internet.” This will positively impact the resort’s operations in terms of easier and faster transactions and communication for staff, and better service and connectivity for guests, especially for business travelers. 

Other connectivity solutions that are in place at Sheraton Cebu Mactan are the PLDT SIP Trunks, powered by fiber technology, which will provide quality and stable incoming and outgoing voice calls, and SMART Postpaid, powered by the latest Smart 5G network, for the mobile communication of the employees.  

There is also Smart Broadband which will be provided for guests traveling from the airport to the hotel and vice versa. All these efforts align with Sheraton’s vision of being the best welcoming resort destination in the Philippines. 

“We value the time our guests spend with us at Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, and indeed, part of that guest experience is connectivity,” says Dottie Wurgler-Cronin, General Manager at Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort. “We want them to feel connected while staying with us–be it at the hotel and the world-class services we provide or simply to each other and their loved ones back at home.” 

“With our partnership with PLDT, we are confident that we can bring that deep sense of togetherness and that unique Cebuano hospitality we are known for to all our guests,” adds Ray. G. Manigsaca, President and CEO of AppleOne Properties, Inc. 

Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort is a 261-room premium resort property at Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu City, a 30-minute drive from Mactan International Airport.  

For more information, visit https://pldtenterprise.com/. 

#PHDigicon2022: “When I think about BOUNDLESS, I think that’s Magic Johnson!”

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 Philippine Digital Convention 2022 headline speaker Earvin “Magic” Johnson talked about his journey from being an NBA Hall of Famer to philanthropist and businessman

PLDT Group’s Cathy Y. Yang talked to PH Digicon 2022 headline speaker,

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, about his life and legacy 

After two years of holding the country’s most prestigious and one of the most sought-after thought leadership events in the Asia-Pacific Region virtually, PLDT Enterprise held the Philippine Digital Convention (PH Digicon) last October 27-28, 2022, face-to-face at the Marriott Grand Ballroom with a simultaneous broadcast online.

Highlighting the 2-day convention was the live interview with the legendary basketball icon Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson who strongly relates to the PH Digicon 2022 theme of BOUNDLESS. Hosted by PLDT Group Corporate Communications Head, Cathy Yap-Yang, Johnson fondly shares, “When I think about Boundless, I think that’s Magic Johnson!”

Raising awareness

In 1991, Johnson officially retired from his basketball career following the announcement of his diagnosis with HIV. In the same year, he founded the Magic Johnson Foundation, one of the most recognizable philanthropic organizations around the world today, which serves as a single-disease organization that works to raise funds for community-based organizations dealing with HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs.

Looking back, Johnson recalls the stigma and discrimination that used to rule the disease and how people talked in “hushed voices”. Now, people can openly talk about and discuss HIV/AIDS–all in the name of raising awareness of the disease. 

Johnson’s ‘retirement’ didn’t hold him back to do what he loves most when he came back to play in the 1992 All-Star Game and won the All-Star MVP Award. He was also a part of the ‘Dream Team’ that won the Olympic gold medal in Barcelona during the 1992 Olympics.

“When I look at our team and our achievements, we changed the world when it comes to the NBA and when it came to basketball,” he says. “What we were able to accomplish in Barcelona, the way that the world accepted us, we’ve never seen anything like it. We won the gold medal, but we changed the game of basketball around the world forever. And I am happy to be part of that.”

Raising the next generation of entrepreneurs

Johnson is also the founder and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises, a global empire with a wide range of business endeavors that range from sports ownership, food service, to media and entertainment. He may have come a long way from bringing coffee shops and cinemas into Urban America, but he remains committed to his mission of creating jobs and opportunities for minorities and women-owned firms. When asked about retirement, the NBA Hall of Famer laughingly replied, “I am not built to slow down. I am a worker; I love to work, [and I bring] passion to my job every day.”

To prepare the next generation of dreamers and entrepreneurs, the NBA Hall of Famer, businessman, and philanthropist advised them about having a positive attitude despite setbacks, the importance of believing in one’s self, and having mentors–a role that he continues to play for many businesses, athletes, and his fans.

“My life is boundless. When I think of my journey, that’s the word I would use. I did everything that was not supposed to be done. When I think about boundless, I think that’s Magic Johnson! I was the first to go through a lot of doors, a man of color. Trust me, you can do it. Everybody out there, you can do it, you can have it, you can go do it, it’s all up to you.”

30 years later, after countless successful ventures, he shared, “Today, Magic’s court is the business world.”

 For more information, visit https://pldtenterprise.com/. 

PLDT Enterprise and PH Digicon 2022 - Bigger, Bolder, and Boundless

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The country’s largest fully integrated telco services provider PLDT, through its business arm PLDT Enterprise, concludes the highly anticipated Philippine Digital Convention 2022 (PH Digicon) with invaluable insights from industry experts and an inspiring live interview with NBA Hall of Famer, philanthropist, and businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson who epitomized this year’s theme of being ‘Boundless.’

From left: Oscar Visaya, Palo Alto Networks PH Country Manager; Marlon Zhang, FiberHome Account Director; Zaza Soriano-Nicart, Managing Director, Cisco Philippines; Jojo G. Gendrano, PLDT & Smart SVP and Head of Enterprise and International Business Groups; Al S. Panlilio, PLDT Group President and CEO; Noel C. Lorenzana, PLDT & Smart Chief Commercial and Information Officer; Victor S. Genuino, ePLDT President and CEO; Carlos Reyes, Head of Nokia Philippines; and Ferdie Saputil, Google Cloud Sales Lead

SVP & Head of PLDT Enterprise & International Business Groups at PLDT & Smart, Jojo G. Gendrano, took the audience to a journey into the metaverse

SVP & Head of Enterprise & International Business Groups at PLDT & Smart, Jojo G. Gendrano, opened the two-day event with a powerful statement, “There is no way back to the old world, a revolution had started,” before showing the audience the endless possibilities of virtual spaces. “Whatever part we play in the Metaverse, it requires the collaboration and co-innovation of the ecosystem to make it a success.” 

PLDT Group’s Cathy Y. Yang chatted with #PHDigicon2022 headline speaker,Earvin “Magic” Johnson who defined himself as ‘boundless’

Gendrano’s immersive presentation was followed by a profound talk by PLDT & Smart President & CEO, Al S. Panlilio, as he called on infinite leadership, challenging to lead ‘with an understanding of the long haul and the need to proactively shift gears.’

He put PLDT as an example, from a traditional telco that offered landlines to now being the Philippines’ largest fully integrated telco company. “As an enabler of digital transformation, I am proud to say that the PLDT Group has always been at the forefront of change,” he says. “We have been enabling enterprises in their transformation goals through innovative solutions and world-class infrastructure.”

PH Digicon further tackled the definition of being ‘Boundless’ with this year’s headline speaker, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, a successful basketball legend turned businessman and philanthropist. He talked about his amazing career which included being part of the 1992 “Dream Team” that won the Olympic gold medal, his philanthropic work through the Magic Johnson Foundation, and being a successful businessman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises.

From bringing businesses into Urban America, creating jobs and giving opportunities to minorities, and working with women-owned firms, Johnson continues to build his empire while staying rooted in his core values of hard work, discipline, and faith.  “My life is boundless,” he says. “When I think of my journey, that’s the word I would use. I did everything that was not supposed to be done. When I think about boundless, I think that’s Magic Johnson!”

From all these talks of transformative technologies, infinite leadership, and the metaverse, to Magic Johnson making history in the world of business, the future of post-pandemic entrepreneurship is truly Boundless.

For more information, visit https://pldtenterprise.com/. 

 

PLDT Enterprise Showcases the Limitless Potential of Artificial Intelligence at GO CEBU Grand Expo

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PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the largest fully integrated telco provider in the country PLDT, partnered with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) to present this year’s Cebu Business Months (CBM) 2022. The CBM 2022 is a year-long series of events and programs that gather stakeholders from the private and public sectors in the areas of Entrepreneurship and ICT-BPM, among others.

Vice President and Head for Enterprise Innovation, Business Development, Consulting, and Presales, Melvin Jeffrey Chan, presents during the Go Cebu Grand Expo and Exhibit

Bannering the keynote panel at the GO CEBU Grand Expo and Exhibit, Vice President & Head of PLDT Enterprise Innovations, Business Development, Consulting & Presales, Melvin Jeffrey Chan, enlightened guests on the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it helps optimize business operations through technology.

According to Chan, AI benefits organizations with faster, data-driven decision-making, where “AI improves core processes by increasing both the speed and accuracy while being able to provide additional insights for strategic initiatives.”

Chan adds how AI has already helped transform many industries, without consumers being aware of it, such as aerospace and defense for drone navigation, AI-designed apparel, self-driving vehicles, smart robots, wearables, among others.

With the limitless potential of AI for businesses, it reduces human errors, increases efficiency in the workflow, and provides safer handling of hazardous tasks. It also lets AI handle mundane tasks whereas business owners can focus on their strategic business initiatives.

According to a recent study by GlobalData, AI will have a global market potential of US$135.8 billion and 14% CAGR by 2026. “It is going to be a catalyst for business and digital transformation, and the possibilities are going to be boundless,” adds Chan.

For those who would like to discuss more in the subject matter of AI or are interested in co-developing or co-innovating in the general technology spaces, Chan encouraged them to reach out to PLDT Enterprise.

This is the 26th CBM celebration hosted by the CCCI. This year’s theme is “GO Cebu!” with the tagline ‘Realign, Reinforce, and Rebuild’ anchored on the vision of generating beneficial results despite challenging times.

For more information, visit https://pldtenterprise.com/.

PLDT Enterprise, Smart provide robust connectivity solutions to Domino’s Pizza

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DPP Retail Inc. and DPP Express Inc. make the Smart move

DPP Retail Inc. and DPP Express Inc.—the companies behind the famous pizza chain Domino’s Pizza—have formed a partnership with PLDT Enterprise to boost its delivery of customer services by enhancing its network capabilities and equipping its restaurants with reliable connectivity nationwide.

PLDT Enterprise will extend different connectivity plans to the company’s headquarters and stores across the country, while they switched all their mobile lines to Smart through the newly launched packages of Smart Enterprise Postpaid utilizing 5G, Voice over LTE and Voice over WIFI network capabilities of Smart.

According to Rea Cruz, General Manager of Domino’s Pizza, the needs of their customers had drastically changed due to the pandemic, with the prevalence of mobile deliveries amid stay-at-home protocols. Thus, they needed to adopt suitable digital solutions to support their business operations.

“For restaurant businesses, the pandemic had forced us to think of ways to keep the business agile and adjust to the changing demands of our customers. With the onset of the lockdown, we experienced growth on online deliveries hence a strong and reliable internet connection is essential for us to operate efficiently,” said Cruz.

“A few minutes of downtime means losses for the business. We had experienced this before but now, we are confident with the capabilities of PLDT Enterprise in enabling our restaurants to stay connected to keep our customers always satisfied,” Cruz furthered.

Domino's Pizza is part of the Three Bears Group (TBG), which is a private equity-backed holding company of food retail concepts in the Philippines. It aims to grow multiple businesses and brands within the F&B sector.

PLDT Vice President and Enterprise Revenue Group Head Ding Ventura-Villarino shared that as the pandemic imposed massive growth on digital transactions, companies need to establish a digital environment supported by reliable connectivity.

The executive also added that PLDT Enterprise is continuously developing technologies to assist enterprises with their digital transformation needs and address the challenges in the evolving business environment.

“As businesses seek for ways to navigate this crisis, PLDT Enterprise will be their reliable partner to lay their network capabilities that serve as the foundation of an efficient digitally-enabled enterprise,” said Villarino.

Likewise, PLDT Enterprise Corporate Relationship Management Head Mari Javier noted that they are committed to supporting the technological needs of businesses that require appropriate and robust infrastructure to power their online operations.

“Internet connection is now indeed a necessity especially if your gains rely heavily on online transactions. PLDT Enterprise is dedicated to supporting companies like DPP Retail and DPP Express in their bid towards powering their business to succeed amid these trying times,” Javier highlighted.

To learn more about Smart Enterprise Postpaid, visit

https://www.pldtenterprise.com/solutions/mobility/wireless-postpaid. #

GlobalData: Philippines an ideal hyperscaler hub

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Hyperscalers looking for geographic expansion should consider the Philippines for its strong legacy in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, future of work programs, and hyperscale roadmap—a study conducted by data analytics and consulting company GlobalData showed.

According to the research titled ‘Why the Philippines Should Be the Next Destination for Hyperscalers,’ the country is the next logical destination for global tech giants due to several factors such as its success in terms of outsourcing, government support, business climate, accelerated cloud adoption, and significant steps for sustainability.

The study cited that the Philippines has a stable and evolving BPO sector as one of the global leaders in BPO, which currently holds about 10 to 15 percent of the global market and an annual growth rate of 10 percent over the past decade.

This entails a strong demand for cloud and artificial intelligence, driven by the shift of companies to remote working setup and the use of data and analytics to understand the online customer journey.

More enterprises in the country are also seen to move to the cloud with the adoption of hybrid operations and vertical applications, enabled by continuous network expansion efforts through 5G and fiber led by the PLDT Group. This is said to “drive the cloud market in the Philippines to grow solidly to US$ 2.8 billion in 2025.”

The PLDT Group has been augmenting its capabilities to strengthen the country’s global connectivity infrastructure and be the next preferred geographic destination of hyperscalers in the Asia-Pacific region.

Likewise, it has been leading various industry initiatives including the launch of commercial mobile 5G last year, which now has over 6,000 sites, to provide the best connectivity experience to its customers.

Moreover, the group also owns 615,000 kilometers fiber optic cables spread across the country to date, as it also marks its domination of the submarine cable capacities terminating in the Philippines.

In terms of sustainability, the group has implemented comprehensive sustainability programs, in partnership with Meralco and the energy department, with a focus on reducing its carbon footprint and improving environmental conservation.

Its key sustainability initiatives include its target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 by reducing carbon emissions, extending the use of renewable energy; and expanding investment in environmental projects.

“The digital economy in the Southeast Asian region is clearly at the cusp of unprecedented growth, and the Philippines is leading the way and growing the fastest,” said Gary Ignacio, PLDT Enterprise VP & Sector Head for Strategic Business Development, citing an excerpt from a recent market research report that tackled internet economy growth in the region.

“As such, the PLDT Group continues to invest heavily on network and IT infrastructure, as we anticipate the hyperscalers’ momentum to further build up in this part of the world. We’re beefing up our international capacities for full hyperscale readiness, with our investments on new cable systems such as Jupiter, APRICOT and the Asia Direct Cable. We’re also ramping up on our data center capacity build, which includes a plan to build a world-class hyperscale data center facility in the country,” Ignacio added.

Meanwhile, the study further mentioned that 29 percent of the businesses they surveyed are considering edge computing within the next three years, which represents another major opportunity for hyperscalers and telecommunication providers.

“Many businesses need the speed and agility of hyperscale solutions, ideally with the security and regulatory compliance that only locally hosted applications can offer to the various industry verticals operating in the Philippines,” the research indicated.

Moreover, the growing support of the government to develop the hyperscaler sector is helping create the right environment to further drive market traction and growth, with implementation of incentives program for hyperscalers expanding their operations in the Philippines, passage of relevant laws on data privacy and security, and the thrust for a cloud-first strategy across the public sector, among others.

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com.

Macao Imperial Tea’s Unbreakable Commitment to bringing special café experience in every cup

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The COVID-19 pandemic has driven companies to reinvent their operations to effectively deal with the changing needs of their customers. For businesses in the food and beverages industry, undergoing a digital transformation has become instrumental to ensuring business continuity and resiliency at the advent of the so-called new normal.

The café chain Macao Imperial Tea proves how innovation played a significant role in keeping the business up and running during the onset of the pandemic.

With mobility restrictions in place, customers were unable to visit stores to purchase their favorite drinks. Thus, the business dared to develop innovative ways to accomplish its unbreakable commitment of bringing customers genuine, memorable, and special café experience.

Avin Ong, Fredley Group of Companies’ Founder and Chief Executive Officer

"With the pandemic happening, we have sought out different solutions to be more accessible despite shutting off. We started being more proactive with our digital efforts by establishing our online store, our e-store, and by partnering with our third-party aggregators, especially for the Macao Imperial team,” said Fredley Group of Companies’ Founder and CEO Avin Ong.

To support the company's online delivery services, the business needed a robust and reliable internet for the simultaneous reception of orders from their customers. They partnered with PLDT Enterprise for enterprise-grade connectivity solutions that could sustain the business' online operations.

"Part of our company’s vision is to always serve our customers better and we will be able to do that only if we stay connected with our customers. PLDT Enterprise serves as the link between the business and the customers because we were able to listen to their feedback, identify their needs and wants, and take the necessary actions,” said the executive.

PLDT Enterprise has been empowering businesses all over the country through cutting-edge enterprise technologies suited to support businesses in maximizing their business productivity and efficiency.

“We understand the need of our partners for a strong and reliable digital foundation that will allow them to be more agile, resilient, and be always connected to their employees and customers. As we endeavor to make an impact on every single business, we are committed to assisting organizations like Macao Imperial Tea as they work to continually serve their community, especially during these uncertain times,” said Jojo Gendrano, FVP & Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise.

PLDT Enterprise launched its Unbreakable Commitment campaign to show how partnerships have assisted companies to thrive despite challenges and in turn, contributed to the lives of Filipinos.

Likewise, the campaign highlights PLDT Enterprise’s unbreakable commitment to empowering organizations through digital solutions that empower them in the ever-changing business environment.

“We appreciate that PLDT Enterprise was here to provide us good internet connection, to provide us quality service, and they were very reachable and proactive during this time, easily addressing the challenges we’ve had,” said Ong.

As one of the fastest-growing café chains, the brand has been committed to providing products that are readily available and accessible to customers.

For their casual dining brands, the executive shared that they conceptualized a service where they bring a complete dining experience in the comforts of their customers’ homes. They launched delivery services for an in-home yakiniku and hotpot feast through their Mitasu Grill-to-Go and Nabe On-the-Go set.

“Our dining brands are very experienced-focused and we wanted to make sure that we bring the full dining experience to the homes of our customers,” Ong added.

Despite the extraordinary times, Macao Imperial Tea upholds its unbreakable commitment to serve its customers with an enriching café experience through every cup they serve.

The pandemic may have caused difficulties to the business, but what’s certain is they will keep seeking ways to bring their best-tasting drinks to customers through innovation and digital technology.

Watch Macao Imperial Tea’s interview here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k_RBuLKkcg

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com 

ePLDT, Microsoft continue empowering PWDs through inclusive workplaces

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(Manila, Philippines ) ePLDT recently marked its first year as a Microsoft employer-partner for the Microsoft Enabler Program. This seeks to empower persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the workplace by fostering inclusivity and helping them increase their employability through training and mentorship.

PLDT Enterprise AVP & Head of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances Fay Ocampo and ePLDT Group Head for Workplace Management Fe Arlene Villanueva-Bassig

As a Microsoft employer-partner, ePLDT accommodated two students from its accessibility partner Virtualahan to take their internship under the group and acquire the necessary digital skills to help them secure gainful employment.

Rowell Navarro and Alfrey Redd Umali are aspiring graphic artists who have hard-of-hearing conditions. They were trained under ePLDT’s People Experience & Communications Team to hone and contribute their skills in developing creative visuals for the company’s awareness campaign on social sustainability.

“My internship has given me the opportunity to learn more about the company and essentials in Graphic Designing. The team [PWM – People Experience & Communication] gave me advice that was indeed helpful for me to accomplish my tasks more creatively and efficiently,” Navarro shared.

Likewise, Umali expressed his gratitude to ePLDT for the invaluable learning experience he attained as a graphic artist intern, and for the opportunity to support the group in producing short videos and other publicity materials.

“Working with the People Experience & Communication team has been a pleasure as I have gained much practical knowledge about graphic designing and video editing… Thank you again for making my internship a rewarding experience,” Umali said.

ePLDT reflects Microsoft’s commitment to giving utmost importance to building accessibility and a culture of inclusion at work.

The team that assisted Navarro and Umali was encouraged to use a meeting platform with closed-caption capabilities, to convey instructional procedures in text form, and to also attend a sensitivity training organized by Virtualahan to fully equip them towards inclusivity.

“The ePLDT Group is steadfast in its commitment to foster an inclusive working environment that provides opportunities for growth to persons with disabilities. We look forward to assisting more talented individuals through this engagement program with Microsoft,” said Fe Arlene Villanueva-Bassig, ePLDT Group Head for Workplace Management.

Meanwhile, during the launch of the APAC Microsoft Enabler Virtual Hackathon, PLDT Enterprise AVP & Head of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances Fay Ocampo said that as a Microsoft partner, ePLDT’s main goal is to expand their initiatives that foster disability-inclusive workplace within the group.

“Our hearts are full when we on-boarded two Virtualahan interns, Alfrey and Rowell who provided digital creative inputs in ePLDT’s company announcement under the wing and the guidance of People Experience & Communications Team,” Ocampo said.

“Now that we move to the next chapter, we carry on our purpose for having an ever-evolving culture of inclusion which starts by expanding our talent pipeline and connecting job-seeking PWDs in having ICT roles within ePLDT,” she added. 

For more information, visit epldt.com.

PLDT Enterprise extends digital solutions to Digital Edge data center in Greater Manila Area

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PLDT Enterprise has forged a partnership with Digital Edge Philippines Inc. (“Digital Edge”) to provide comprehensive connectivity and IT solutions to future customers of its 10-megawatt data center in Biñan, Laguna, a suburban district adjacent to Manila.

Mitch Locsin, PLDT FVP & Enterprise Revenue Group Head, said that the partnership with Digital Edge will allow both companies to tap into the growing cloud and digital opportunities in the country.

“PLDT has consistently remained at the forefront in offering innovative digital services for enterprises of all sizes, both local and international. It is always our pleasure to extend our expertise to our partners to enable them to reach their goals and open opportunities for their businesses,” he said.

Digital Edge is a new pan-Asia data center platform company that is focused on providing colocation, interconnection, and connectivity solutions to cloud and enterprise customers.

“Digital Edge strives to fulfill its vision to provide our clients with innovative data center services in the industry. Our partnership with the PLDT Group will allow us to present the full suite of PLDT services to our future customers and I am very excited for the future cooperation,” said Victor Barrios, President, and CEO of Digital Edge Philippines Inc.

Meanwhile, Jojo Gendrano, FVP & Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise said that PLDT Enterprise is taking another step towards powering the digital economy and aiding the local enterprise growth through the newly-forged partnership.

“The combination of Digital Edge’s infrastructure and PLDT’s best-in-class solutions and services will allow our clients to move ahead swiftly on their respective digital initiatives as we all transition to the new business normal. We are excited about this partnership and the prospects of helping build the right digital growth ecosystems for the market to take advantage of,” said Gendrano.

“We are grateful to our partners who continuously recognize PLDT Group’s integrity and excellence for complex network infrastructure projects. As they put their trust and confidence in us, PLDT will continue to invest in technology infrastructure to deliver a wider array of digital services to bring them reliable and high-quality digital solutions,” he added.

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com and digitaledgedc.com.

PHINMA Education fulfills Unbreakable Commitment to accessible education in the next normal

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PHINMA Education, a fast-growing network of schools in Southeast Asia, believes that access to quality education can make lives better for millions of underserved youth. Witnessing that many students are unable to complete their college degrees, the institution aims to make education accessible particularly in some key growth areas across the Philippines.

Christopher Tan, Chief Operations Officer of PHINMA Education

However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, their unbreakable commitment to delivering quality education towards gainful employment for their students and graduates was severely challenged.

“It was a very disruptive year for the educational sector. The pandemic made it very difficult for all types of schools, whether public or private to fulfill their mission of educating their students,” said Christopher A. Tan, Chief Operating Officer of PHINMA Education.

The institution, which operates nine tertiary schools in the country, recognized that flexible learning would be the way forward for students and teachers. While online education became common for most educational institutions in the country, PHINMA Education’s unique market needed a different solution.

“We serve students from lower-income households and many of them are not prepared well in their grade school and high school for college. They are more likely to drop out even under normal circumstances and the big problem with distance learning is not so much the quality of education, but it’s the ability to complete the program,” explained Tan.

The challenge for the institution is to generate creative and innovative approaches to manage these problems differently. They also need to make sure that the distance learning setup would be suited even for students from low-income families. Thus, they launched Flex and RaDLearning, which rely on printed courseware, strong teacher support, and constant interaction with peers. This made the infrastructure that would enable them to connect with their students and faculty the utmost importance.

They partnered with PLDT Enterprise and Smart for connectivity solutions that effectively support the digital learning needs of their students and faculty members. Smart provided tailor-made Giga Study plans that further boost PHINMA Education’s pledge to ease the learning experience of students in the new normal.

“Combining printed modules with remote coaching and the data plan from Smart helped us come up with an almost robust workable solution we can develop for these very difficult times. We appreciate PLDT Enterprise for understanding the underlying principles that we cared about and for coming up with a very flexible plan that gave access to our key programs,” said Tan.

“Giga Study Plan has the key features of stability, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. PLDT Enterprise was very generous in developing a program that gave enough bandwidth and access to our students, at the same time, really kept the costs low,” he added.

“PLDT Enterprise heeds the call of the education sector for solutions that will enable students and educators to easily steer distance learning. We are committed to supporting the needs of our partners, such as the PHINMA Education, to empower them in maintaining their unbreakable commitment despite these most difficult times,” said Jojo Gendrano, FVP and Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise.

PLDT Enterprise recently introduced its Unbreakable Commitment campaign to highlight its partnerships with various organizations in the country to demonstrate how fostering partnerships could help companies thrive despite the obstacles they face and in turn, contribute to the lives of Filipinos.

The campaign also reinforces PLDT Enterprise’s unbreakable commitment to empowering organizations through the power of technology.

“Smart Giga Study Plans helped us promise our students that for this year, they do not have to worry about connecting to their teachers and classmates. That’s a very important message especially in times of uncertainty and suffering. We promised our students that they are not going to be alone in going through their classes this year, and PLDT Enterprise helped fulfill that promise,” Tan furthered.

“But one of the important values we see in this partnership is not just the technology but the strategic thinking that we can do together to solve complex social problems.”

Through fostering partnerships that would help them navigate uncertainties, PHINMA Education Network was able to stay true to its unbreakable commitment to providing access to education to students despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the help of the right partner who successfully attends to the needs of its stakeholders, the institution can carry on its mission to educate and guide its learners no matter how unique and tough the journey will be ahead of the next normal.

Watch PHINMA Education’s interview here: https://youtu.be/5lV7Ltxkzms

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com. 

Philippine digital revolution opens opportunities for more hyperscalers

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With a fast-growing digital economy and strong digital roadmap, the Philippines proves to be an ideal investment destination for global hyperscalers or the massive international companies that dominate the cloud service sector.

Being one of the early adopters of 5G in the Asia Pacific region and tagged as a second ‘overperformer’ by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in terms of readiness for frontier technology use, the country has the potential to become a valuable cloud region that could provide vast opportunities to global tech giants.

The Philippines boasts of an enticing demographic having the second-largest and one of the youngest population in Southeast Asia. It also has a literacy rate of 91.6 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), that is among the highest in the world.

A report from We Are Social also showed that the country has unparalleled mobile penetration of 152.4 mobile connections and 67 percent internet penetration. Last year, the country also marked more than 4.2 million additional internet users which, overall, spend an average of 10.5 hours online, the longest time spent globally.

Likewise, the said report found that businesses have also been adaptive to the digital transformation with 80 percent e-commerce adoption. Market and consumer data provider Statista also estimated that e-commerce users will rise to 55.8 million users by 2025.

In this regard, PLDT—the largest fully integrated telecommunications company in the Philippines—has been ramping up its network and data center infrastructure to continuously increase the country’s attractiveness to more hyperscalers. To date, PLDT is already servicing a number of international content and cloud service providers by hosting their colocation, cloud, and connectivity requirements in its VITRO Data Center network.

The group – through its ICT arm ePLDT - currently owns a network of 10 globally certified VITRO data center facilities strategically located across the country, with a total capacity of 80MW and over 9,000 racks. Since network is as essential as data center reliability, all VITRO data center facilities are carrier-neutral, allowing other telcos both foreign and local to provide network connections based on customer preference and resiliency considerations.

“We believe that the Philippines has become an ideal data center location for global hyperscalers and that it is an emerging regional hub in Asia, which is why we at PLDT are continuously strengthening our infrastructure and network capabilities to support the hyperscale requirements of international tech giants,” said Jojo Gendrano, FVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

The company has been rolling out initiatives to boost its network infrastructure, such as the completion of Jupiter Cable system that is expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2022. This will expand PLDT’s existing international bandwidth capacity of 16 Terabit/s with an additional 39.2 terabits. Its wireless subsidiary Smart, meanwhile, has already introduced its 5G services that provide faster data, less latency, and less interference for better efficiency.

“With our robust domestic and international network infrastructure in place and data centers at par with the technologically developed countries, PLDT serves as the gateway to bridge more global cloud service providers and content providers to the Philippines, further making it the new hyperscaler destination,” Gendrano noted.

In support of such thrust, PLDT’s B2B arm PLDT Enterprise launched a campaign that highlights the country’s capabilities as an emerging market suited for international technological companies on the lookout for expansion amid the fast-growing demand for digital services.

This video captures why the Philippines has emerged as the next important destination for hyperscalers. Check out PLDT Enterprise’s campaign video here: https://youtu.be/8XDziWohoJE

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com. 

PLDT Enterprise readies next-gen business solutions for hybrid work setup

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PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the country’s largest fully integrated telecommunications provider PLDT, announced that it is launching several products and solutions next year to deliver the connectivity needs of companies implementing hybrid work arrangements.

By early 2022, PLDT Enterprise is set to unveil new Smart Bro Promo Plans that will provide enterprise-grade 5G fixed wireless connectivity to businesses, enabling users to stay connected while using data-heavy tools and applications.

Vice President & Head of Wireless Marketing for PLDT Enterprise Chet Alviz said that for the upcoming year, PLDT Enterprise is gearing to provide the fastest connection speeds that can support the evolving needs of industries such as BPOs, banking, logistics and transportations, SMEs, and others.

“PLDT Enterprise has been looking into innovations that will help our partners address their common business challenges including connectivity, security, and network infrastructure, among others. We are actively developing solutions that would enable them to maximize their productivity and efficiency while also making their businesses more equipped for a hybrid work setup,” said Alviz.

These solutions will be suited for work-from-home employees across the country who need reliable and high-speed internet connectivity to work anytime, anywhere.

“Now that businesses are transforming into the perimeter-less environment, what they need is an enterprise-grade 5G fixed wireless connection that could sustain their daily workflow even while at home. Since most companies have adopted the work-from-home set-up, we endeavored to develop and provide solutions that empower our employees to stay connected and be productive wherever they are,” Shyr Amador, Head of IoT & Connected Devices for PLDT Enterprise.

Smart Bro provides reliable, high-speed internet connectivity and a flexible internet connection, leveraging on Smart’s nationwide coverage, utilizing LTE and the latest 5G technology. With Smart 5G, users will experience faster and more efficient mobile speeds with lower latency to support their work and digital lifestyle needs.

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com.

PLDT Enterprise ramps up campaign to drive MSME recovery

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Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have suffered the worst in the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) showed that the MSME sector in the country had experienced disrupted cash flow, income losses, and temporary business closures, among others.

Despite these, MSMEs have been resilient and adaptive to challenges by continuously reinventing their processes with the help of technology. They have invested in digital solutions to innovate and enable businesses continuity amid mobility restrictions and health protocols.

To pay tribute to the unbreakable spirit of Filipino MSMEs, PLDT Enterprise has been relentless in its initiatives to provide suitable solutions to the sector to boost business recovery. The group now endeavors to extend financial and technological assistance to small-scale entrepreneurs and MSMEs to spur and accelerate their recovery.

Vic Tria, PLDT FVP & Enterprise Revenue Group Head, said that PLDT Enterprise fortifies its resolve to remain as the trusted technology partner of Filipino entrepreneurs and SME owners as they strive to recover from the economic challenges of the pandemic.

"Our urgent priority at PLDT Enterprise is to help MSMEs to get back up and running as community quarantine measures slowly loosen up. Apart from connectivity, we recognize that they also need access to financial assistance technology services that will help them operate and thrive. This is why we're consistently coming up with innovative digital solutions that are within reach and are tailor-fit to their specific needs, so we can help accelerate their recovery and at the same time enhance their resiliency,” Tria said.

Together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Small Business Corp. (SBCorp.), PLDT Enterprise is supporting MSMEs by facilitating the delivery of assistances in the form of financing, connectivity, digital solutions, and access to upskilling and training.

The group currently offers a “DARE” promo for its BEYOND FIBER solution where MSMEs can avail of the service for only P90 pesos for the first 90 days, with no pre-termination fees within three months upon subscription. BEYOND FIBER is an enterprise-grade fiber powered by the 90-90 Advantage, which provides businesses a boosted minimum speed of 45Mbps or 90% of their subscribed speed at 90% reliability, that ensures the reliability of internet connection at any time of the day.

PLDT Enterprise also extended discounted GigaWork plans via BizLoad and a slew of curated digital solutions such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Shopify, and PayMaya payment solutions to allow MSMEs to transact online.

Additionally, PLDT Enterprise has also been empowering business owners with the latest industry insights through its TechTalk Learning Series, #Unbreakable Tuesdays with DTI, and ongoing virtual workshops with GoNegosyo called #UnbreakableMSMEs series.

“We at PLDT Enterprise assure our MSME partners of our unbreakable commitment to provide relevant solutions suitable for their online requirements. We commit to assist and guide our MSMEs in their digital transformation to help them recover as we look forward to a better business climate in the near future,” added Chito Franco, PLDT Enterprise Vice President for Small and MicroBiz.

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com. #