PLDT, Inc. anticipates “positive” fixed line revenues and double-digit growth for its home and enterprise business in the third quarter, its President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

“Always positive, for the fixed line — no problem…Double-digit growth for home and enterprise,” Mr. Pangilinan told reporters on Monday, when asked about revenue expectations for the third quarter. 

He noted PLDT revenues “picking up a bit more momentum towards the end of the year.”

At the same time, PLDT will allocate a “bigger portion” of its capital expenditure (capex) in the coming years to grow the fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) part of the business, Mr. Pangilinan said.

“We expect homes passed before the end of the year will be between 3.8 to 4 million homes. That will increase each year. There’s a certain target we want to reach in five years’ time,” Mr. Pangilinan said.

The company previously said it will expand its fiber-powered fixed line network by about 80% to 4.4 million homes by yearend.

For the second quarter, PLDT registered an 85% increase in its attributable net income to P11.57 billion for the April to June period due to growth in its data and broadband businesses and the divestment of its equity interest in Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc. 

The wireless business, however, remains an area of improvement for the telecommunications company. For the first half, the wireless consumer business, which includes Smart, Talk
’N Text and Sun Cellular, reported a 16% drop in revenues to P29.6 billion.

Meanwhile, PLDT on Monday launched its communications and information management solutions for local government units (LGUs) to help in public safety and disaster management programs.

Mr. Pangilinan told reporters PLDT will be talking with local officials on LGUs need for economic development.

“We might have to choose the key cities first, then you have to go down,” he said.

The company is working with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council to help LGUs improve the operations of first responders and front liners during emergencies and disasters with the aid of digital solutions.

PLDT will initially partner with 11 cities and municipalities for its enterprise solutions such as SOS Dispatch, which includes ruggedized mobile communication units and automated SMS broadcast service. Other services can be added like data center services, 911 hotlines, Smart SMS broadcast service, a full CRM command center, satellite phones, and others. – Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

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