PLDT, Inc. said Thursday that it partnered with the Cavite local government through its business arm PLDT Enterprise and wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. for the rollout of a fiber network for the province’s digital roadmap towards becoming a “Smart City.”

“The PLDT Group is extending its support in laying the groundwork for Cavite’s vision of becoming a Smart City. We are delighted to commence this advancement which is a massive move for the development of Cavite,” PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said in a statement.

The provincial government of Cavite and the PLDT group will activate the Cavite Managed Broadband Network Service, an end-to-end solution that will enable internet to the province’s 23 cities and municipalities, PLDT said.

“The project will connect over 2,504 locations and 4,894 installed access points, through the PLDT’s fiber network supported by ePLDT’s VITRO Data Center which are strategically provisioned all over Cavite using the Smart WiFi platform,” it added.

Cavite Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” C. Remulla, Jr. said he is confident that through the PLDT group, the province will be able to achieve its goal of becoming a Smart City.

The project includes the provision of a fully underground fiber optic cable backbone. It will provide free internet access to more than 23 cities and municipalities, 129 public elementary and secondary schools, and 42 public places.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced recently that eight cities and one town in different parts of the country had launched their five-year digital city roadmaps.

These are the cities of Balanga, Batangas, General Santos, Iligan, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga; and the first-class municipality of Taytay in Rizal.

The digital city roadmaps aim to bridge the progress gap in the countryside.

The DICT, Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, and Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc. launched the “Digital Cities 2025” program last year, covering 25 locations and 31 cities.

These areas are expected to attract an estimated P70 billion in investments from business process outsourcing companies in the next few years.

Within the five-year program, the identified cities will be prioritized for internet connectivity and digital education for the talent pool.

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

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