PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications, Inc., are reinforcing their commitment to innovation and the development of future engineering talent through enhanced collaborations with academic institutions and industry stakeholders via the PLDT-Smart Technolab.

The PLDT-Smart Technolab serves as a hub for research and development, focusing on cutting-edge technologies and solutions to advance the Philippines' telecommunications landscape. By partnering with universities and industry players, PLDT and Smart aim to foster a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for knowledge exchange, joint projects, and hands-on training for aspiring engineers.

In 2024, PLDT and Smart welcomed over hundreds of students, educators, and industry professionals to the PLDT-Smart Technolab in Makati City. As the country’s only Telecom Technologies Exploration Lab, this state-of-the-art facility has firmly established itself as a premier destination for innovation, learning, and exploration in telecommunications.

The Technolab hosted delegations from esteemed institutions such as National University-Fairview, Mapúa University, Ateneo de Manila University, Bataan Peninsula State University, Siena College of Taytay (SCT), Don Bosco Technical College, Mapua University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), and Southville International School. It also welcomed international participants, including exchange students from Chosun University in South Korea who are part of an exchange program with De La Salle Araneta University’s (DLSAU) Lasallian Language Center in Malabon, visitors from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), as well as engineers from the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP) NCR Northeast, senior high school students from St John's Academy, Inc (SJAI) in Bataan, and members of the Philippine Technological Council Young Engineers Section (PTC-YES). These engagements enriched cross-cultural knowledge-sharing and expanded the global reach of PLDT and Smart’s educational initiatives.

The Technolab serves as a dynamic sandbox for testing and exploring transformative technologies. Current research areas include 6G, Passive Optical Network (PON) next-generation advancements, cloudification technologies, and fully autonomous networks. By staying at the forefront of these innovations, the Technolab positions PLDT and Smart as leaders in testing and exploring future-ready telecommunications systems while enhancing customer experiences and operational efficiency.

One of the Technolab’s flagship programs, the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), has over the past two decades inspired thousands of aspiring engineers, many of whom are now making significant contributions to the telecom industry. Complementing this is the Alma Mater Edition of the Technolab Academe Tech Tour, which strengthens bonds between students and alumni working within PLDT and Smart, fostering community pride and serving as a source of inspiration for the next generation.

"We are always delighted to welcome students and industry peers to the PLDT-Smart Technolab, where our mission bridges the advancement of our business with meaningful contributions to education and innovation," said Lennart Olaivar, AVP and Head of Network Innovation and Laboratory.

"We at PLDT and Smart have always believed that there should be 'no learner left behind.' This has been our motivation in the many years that we have rolled out our technology-enabled programs to help improve basic education and higher learning in the country," said Debbie Hu, First Vice President and Head of Wireless Networks.

"Initiatives like SWEEP and the Alma Mater Edition of the Technolab Academe Tech Tour strengthen industry-academe partnerships and advance our exploration of cutting-edge telecom technologies. These engagements inspire future engineers, spark innovation, and foster collaboration, driving industry progress while supporting national and business goals," she added.

In 2024 alone, the Technolab facilitated 15 engagements, as well as trained and hosted more than 300 students and industry peers. Among them was Casey Christian Francisco, a Computer Science student at SCT, who was thrilled by his experience being able to handle virtual reality equipment and was overall inspired by their visit to the Technolab:  “We are taught to be innovative, to think out of the box. And seeing PLDT and Smart doing the same thing, it really gives us more drive to work harder on the things that we create,” he said.

The success of SWEEP underscores the tangible impact of this initiative, not just on the telecommunications sector but also on education, future members of the Filipino workforce, and the broader economy. Since 2003, SWEEP has helped colleges and universities produce industry-ready graduates in the fields of engineering, I.T., and technopreneurship, training almost 43,000 students and teachers from the 25 partners schools in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao on various technologies. Of this, more than 1,000 have joined PLDT and Smart.

The Technolab’s contributions extend beyond education, driving innovation that directly supports PLDT and Smart’s business growth. From exploring and testing market-ready technologies to improving network reliability and enabling next-generation customer services, its initiatives reflect a strong alignment with strategic business objectives.

Additionally, the Technolab underscores its commitment to societal impact by advancing UN SDG No. 4 (Quality Education) and UN SDG No. 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Efforts to promote diversity and inclusion, such as encouraging participation from underserved communities and women in STEM, further reinforce its role in building an equitable future.

Looking ahead, the PLDT-Smart Technolab aims to deepen its impact by scaling its programs, embracing emerging technologies, and expanding its collaborative network. Key areas of focus include:
• Exploring and testing Open RAN to drive cost-efficiency and interoperability.
• Researching energy-efficient and AI-driven network solutions.
• Partnering with global institutions to benchmark against and contribute to global telecom advancements.

Through these efforts, the Technolab aspires to shape the next generation of telecom professionals and contribute meaningfully to a more inclusive and resilient digital ecosystem. By fostering a vibrant culture of innovation, PLDT and Smart reaffirm their commitment to driving transformative change for the Philippines and beyond.