PLDT, Inc. said it is expecting to secure its vendors for fifth-generation (5G) network equipment before the year ends as it targets the commercial launch of the advanced network by the fourth quarter of the year.
PLDT Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan told reporters last week the company is currently talking to five international technology providers as possible vendors of 5G equipment.
These companies are China’s Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and ZTE Corp.; Sweden’s Ericsson, Inc.; Finland’s Nokia Corp.; and United States’ Cisco Systems, Inc.
“We’re pilot testing several use cases in several areas where we have installed the plants,” he said.
“Hopefully by the fourth quarter pwede na ’yung Home, ’yung fixed wireless for the Home and Enterprise [Hopefully by the fourth quarter we can launch 5G for fixed wireless for the Home and Enterprise],” he added.
Last year, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. fired up two 5G cell sites located in Makati Central Business District and Clark Freeport Zone, where it said was able to record speeds of up to 700 megabits per second (Mbps). Technology partners Huawei for Makati and Ericsson for Clark provided the 5G radio and core equipment for the firing up of the sites.
Mr. Pangilinan said the company may eventually finalize a deal with about two technology providers for the commercial launch of 5G.
“Wala pa naman ’yung mobile gadgets. ’Yung standards wala pa rin [The mobile gadgets and standards for 5G are not yet here]. So…we might start with home/enterprise. But we have to ask, what are the relevant cities, customer premises equipment for home enterprise,” he added.
Mr. Pangilinan also noted PLDT remained in touch with Huawei after United States government placed the latter on a blacklist on national security grounds.
“We’re constantly in touch with them. They’re the suppliers of our 4G and some elements of our fixed network. Of course we raised the security issues with them. They promised to cooperate,” Mr. Pangilinan said.
There has been growing concern over Huawei’s role as a major supplier to 5G networks around the world, with some seeing the Chinese tech giant as a potential tool for espionage or network disruption.
Meanwhile, PLDT rival Globe Telecom, Inc. is scheduled to launch its 5G network to the home this week. It earlier said the next-generation network could provide speeds from 50 Mbps to 100 Mbps.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Denise A. Valdez
