PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) emerged as the top ASEAN finalist at the 2023 World Communication Awards (WCA), which recognize excellence among the world’s leading telco players. PLDT and Smart received four nominations, among nearly 220 entries from telcos and broadband providers all over the world, at the annual awards program.

PLDT and Smart are the only Philippine telcos to be named finalist for Best Operator in an Emerging Market, which is given to an operator that has overcome challenges, has achieved commercial success, and has improved the lives of customers. Also shortlisted in this category are Haiti’s Digicel, Singapore’s Kacific Broadband Satellites Ltd and Lightstorm.

PLDT and Smart are also nominated under the CyberSecurity Award category, for the Group’s Child Protection Platform. This is the first and only solution in the Philippines that allows the blocking of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) content and child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM) on the domain level and on more difficult content levels, while complying with Philippine privacy laws.

The Group is also in the running for the Social Contribution Award, for its #FarmSmart advocacy, which aims to improve the lives and livelihood of Filipino farmers through technology, innovation and collaboration with public and private stakeholders.

Meanwhile, PLDT and Smart’s Ligtas Kit, has been nominated under the Crisis Response category. The Ligtas Kit is a portable, all-in-one emergency communications bundle that provides much-needed communication services in times of disasters.

Launched in 1999, the World Communication Awards have been the blue-chip mark of telecom excellence for 25 years. It is organized by Total Telecom, a global publisher with a community of more than 100,000 telecom professionals from all over the world. The silver anniversary edition of the WCA will run in conjunction with the 2023 Total Telecom Congress.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held at the National Maritime Museum, Amsterdam on November 22.