The largest fully integrated telco provider PLDT is intensifying its backing to the country’s thriving startup community and possibly collaborating with the next tech unicorn as it signs IoT (Internet of Things) platform and solutions provider company ThingsPh.
PLDT, through its subsidiary ePLDT, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ThingsPh to promote, develop, and help businesses gain access to an IoT ecosystem for easy deployment of IoT solutions.
“We’ve seen the potential of startups in the country and we continuously recognize their drive and dedication to solve problems in our society that might just be game-changing innovation our country needs, at the moment we put strong focuses in startups who are specialized in emerging technologies such as IoT, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Big Data, hyper-automation, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)” said PLDT Vice President and Head of Enterprise Innovations and IoT Business Development Melvin Jeffrey Chan. “We at the PLDT Group are excited in working with ThingsPh on the projects and services that we could develop out of this partnership,” he added.
For its enterprise business, PLDT has been introducing IoT solutions to government, large corporations, and Micro-, Small-Medium Enteprises (MSMEs). Along with its wireless subsidiary Smart, PLDT has established strong partnerships with industry leaders in expanding its connectivity and network coverage to power and drive the adoption of such solutions in the country including its deployment of highspeed 5G wireless broadband.
ThingsPh provides clients and partners with a unified Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things (AIoT) platform and applications that help them gather real-time data, analytics, and alerts on what’s happening in the sites and offices whenever and wherever. The platform features its capability to easily integrate with and work together with various systems, different IoT sensors, and even cameras.
"Our proprietary platform is built to support the AIoT transformation journey of enterprises from POC to commercial deployments, from one to multiple sites and use cases. We developed it with scalability in mind. Enterprises will not need to purchase multiple systems to support their IoT requirements whether they start with just a simple temperature monitoring and scale it up to complex ones,” said Ferdinand Yanto III, ThingsPh's CEO and Co-founder.
Their Smart Office applications help in efficiently managing office space operations from indoor air quality monitoring for DOH-DOLE compliance, electricity and water consumption, room occupancy, people counting to attendance monitoring. On the other hand, their Smart Retail applications include cold-storage temperature monitoring for food quality and safety, people counting for social distancing, and quality compliance with real-time monitoring from inventory status, and asset conditions.
“This partnership will accelerate our goal to help enterprises unlock the limitless possibilities with AIoT starting with real-time monitoring and analytics. It is time for our country to experience the impact of AIoT and this partnership is just the beginning. We are thrilled and eager to drive IoT in our country with the PLDT Group,” he added.
The PLDT Group has been a staunch supporter and partner for the local startup community. It’s held several searches in recognizing potential marketability of top start ups and awarding them with capital funding, IT and connectivity support, intensive training, client networking among the MVP companies and partners.
PLDT Enterprise’s Innovation Lab and Ecosystem Partnership (Innolab) is dedicated on looking for startup partners it can collaborate with and support. PLDT Innolab developed key thrusts—among which are innovation through collaboration and ecosystem build, which seek to co-develop solutions with startups as well as cultivate a community of innovators.
“We hope to elevate our local start ups with these kinds of opportunities that are mutually beneficial to all, which ultimately provide customers improved services and better experience out of such partnerships,” said PLDT Innovation Lab and Ecosystem Partnerships Head Dara Ever Juan.
It’s been a consistent partner for the highly celebrated Philippine Startup Week, the country’s largest 5-day startup conference, and a collaborative initiative by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), together with QBO Innovation Hub.
