INNOVATION THAT BRIDGE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS BACK HOME. Whitey Bluestein, Corporate Development & Mobile Strategy Advisor of Bluestein & Associates, left, presents the Most Innovative MVNO Award to Oliver C. Calma, PLDT UK Director General Manager.
The International MVNO Industry Awards, one of the most prestigious award giving bodies in the industry, recognizes the excellence of different MVNOs who strive to create significant impact not only by providing telecommunication products and services to the consumer but by continuously coming up with new ways to serve them better.
As an MVNO, PLDT HK partnered with Communications Services Ltd. (CSL), a renowned mobile communications operator in Hong Kong, and launched SMART Pinoy in 2004. Celebrating its 10th year in the market, PLDT HK’s SMART Pinoy serves more than 70,000 Overseas Filipinos in Hong Kong providing them with affordable call and SMS services to the Philippines and other value-added services.
“It is truly an honor for us (at PLDT Global) to receive this award—a definite testament of our commitment to serve the Overseas Filipinos and migrants around the world. PLDT HK served as our model MVNO and through the years, we have expanded our presence in Singapore, Malaysia, Guam, Taiwan, Macau, and the United Kingdom. As we celebrate this timely milestone during PLDT HK’s 10th year, we will continue to keep our mission of providing our market not only with relevant and innovative voice products but data centric value added services as well,” said Eric R. Alberto, PLDT EVP & Head of Enterprise, International and Carrier Business.
“Innovation, with the Overseas Filipino in mind, is at the heart of what we do here,” explained Alejandro O. Caeg, PLDT Global President & CEO. “PLDT HK’s SMART Pinoy was our first and pioneering footprint abroad. With our market being breadwinners of families back home, SMART Pinoy enables them to express their love through our existing services such as the SMART Philippine Virtual Number giving them the best call and text rates to the Philippines,” added Caeg.
The continuous innovation of PLDT Global allowed the company to provide a more unique Filipino experience by offering services beyond voice. “Every SMART Pinoy service addresses a particular need of the Overseas Filipino. Mobile remittance or money transfer for instance, allows them to manage the expenses of the household.Cross-border loading and SMART Pinoy Store’s online commerce ensures that the money spent goes to where it should be such as utility bills payment (i.e Meralco & Maynilad). Lastly, you have SMART Pinoy TV that keeps them informed on the latest news and buzz in the Philippines at the palm of their hand,” Caeg said.
2014 is an exciting year as PGC is set to expand its horizons to serve more Filipinos around the world with innovation as its thrust.
