Leading integrated telco PLDT Inc (PLDT) has successfully tested 50G Passive Optical Networks (50GPON), the latest and fastest in Passive Optical Network (PON) technology–a first in the Philippines. PON technology is used by PLDT for its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service nationwide.

50GPON will enable PLDT to provide 50 Gigabits per second (Gbps) speeds for every equipment port–several times faster than the speeds that current technologies GPON (2.5 Gbps) and XGS PON (10 Gbps) are able to deliver.

“After successfully testing XGS PON in 2021, PLDT is taking it further by testing the latest and fastest technology in Passive Optical Networks called 50GPON, which will allow five times faster speeds than XGSPON and 20 times faster speeds than GPON, which is the most widely used technology by fiber providers in the Philippines,” said Arvin L. Siena, VP and Head of Network Strategy and Transformation office at PLDT and Smart.

“This latest milestone is a testament to the Group’s commitment to always be ahead in harnessing the best technologies and innovations to deliver enhanced services and elevated customer experience to the Filipino public,” said Eric Santiago, Head of Network at PLDT and Smart. “While we have been offering boosted speeds to our customers even before the pandemic, this new technology further ensures that we can provide the best and fastest service to homes nationwide,” he added.

As of end-September 2023, the PLDT Group has further expanded its total fiber footprint to over 1.1 million cable kilometers, consisting of over 0.2 million cable kilometers of international fiber and about 0.9 million cable kilometers of domestic fiber. Homes passed reached more than 17.3 million homes in 69% of the country’s municipalities/towns, while PLDT’s total number of fiber ports rose to 6.15 million covering over 18,000 barangays nationwide.

Helming the push for collaborations between the private and public sectors to connect more Filipinos nationwide is the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), where PLDT sits as one of the founding members under the Digital Infrastructure Pillar.

These initiatives are also aligned with PLDT’s endeavors to provide connectivity to all, and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) particularly on SDG No. 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

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