SMART Communications, Inc. and the enterprise business arm of PLDT, Inc. have teamed up with multinational telecommunications company Nokia Corp. for an Internet-of-Things (IoT) platform aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of businesses in the country.
PLDT said in a statement e-mailed to reporters on Aug. 21 that PLDT Enterprise, Smart Communications and Nokia teamed up to introduce a powerful solution that will transform the way IoT applications are deployed and managed in the country.
It said the move is expected to allow businesses “to accelerate their digital transformation goals and provide next-level customer experience beyond just connectivity.”
“A first in the Philippines, the Smart IoT Platform, powered by Nokia’s Worldwide IoT Network Grid (WING) will further enhance businesses to have full real-time visibility and control to up to hundreds of thousands of connected devices,” it added.
The IoT platform allows businesses to “effectively oversee to automate the connectivity and usage” of their mobile assets. PLDT said the objectives are to ensure optimum performance and increase operational efficiency.
ePLDT President and Chief Executive Officer Juan Victor I. Hernandez said: “For PLDT-Smart, this is so much more than IoT, as it opens up a lot of possibilities that were previously only a dream.”
The PLDT-Nokia partnership this year is focused on seeking to help build IoT-enabled industries. They intend to provide business solutions for the efficient management of interconnected devices.
“We put this vision forward with the Philippines’ first localized IoT offer, and we believe that this will ultimately pave the way for the Philippines’ transformation to a nation of smart cities,” said Mr. Hernandez, who also serves as senior vice-president and head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.
For his part, Nokia Philippines Head Carlos Reyes said: “As a partner, we not only bring just a platform, but also the business experience we have around the world, providing technology and business solutions to help drive enterprise growth.”
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. — Arjay L. Balinbin
