PLDT (NYSE:PHI) (NYSE: PHI) is the leading telecommunications and digital services provider in the Philippines, offering a comprehensive suite of voice, data, and multimedia services to both residential and enterprise customers. The company’s core operations span fixed-line and wireless communications, broadband internet, and digital television, supported by an expansive network infrastructure that includes fiber-optic links, mobile towers, and a growing portfolio of submarine cable investments. Through its wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications, PLDT delivers 4G LTE and emerging 5G services across major urban centers and rural areas, helping to bridge the digital divide in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economies.
Founded in 1928 as the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, PLDT played a pivotal role in the nation’s postwar reconstruction and economic development. Over the decades, the company evolved from a state-owned enterprise into a privatized entity following a series of regulatory reforms and strategic partnerships in the 1990s. Today, PLDT operates under the auspices of the First Pacific Group, which helped accelerate network modernization efforts and expand service offerings beyond traditional voice communications to include high-speed broadband, digital content, and managed IT services.
In recent years, PLDT has intensified its focus on digital transformation, leveraging ePLDT, its dedicated ICT arm, to deliver cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data center solutions to corporate clients. The company’s expanding ecosystem of digital platforms and partnerships aims to support the Philippines’ transition to a digital economy, catering to industries such as e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and education. Concurrently, PLDT has invested in subsea cable systems to enhance international bandwidth capacity, ensuring reliable connectivity for both domestic users and multinational enterprises operating in the region.
Governed by a board chaired by long-time business leader Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT’s executive team is led by President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio, who has spearheaded initiatives in network modernization and enterprise services since his appointment. Under their stewardship, the company emphasizes corporate social responsibility programs focused on digital literacy, disaster resilience, and sustainable infrastructure development. With a workforce dedicated to innovation and customer service, PLDT remains at the forefront of telecommunications and digital solutions in the Philippines, positioning itself for further growth as demand for connectivity and technology-enabled services continues to rise.