PLDT Inc and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc (Smart) are ramping up their support for the government-led Bayanihan SIM program through network expansion, community engagement, and sustained SIM activation initiatives, helping deliver the benefits of connectivity to more underserved and unserved communities across the country.
Recently, Smart has successfully fired up sites serving geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) in Argao, Cebu; Matalam, Cotabato Province; Talakag, Bukidnon; Silago, Southern Leyte; and San Vicente, Palawan, supporting education, agriculture and local businesses, as well as helping local governments enhance the delivery of government services to their constituents through stronger network coverage.
Smart is also deploying interim connectivity solutions such as femtocell and satellite connectivity to identified unserved areas to enable meaningful digital participation among Bayanihan SIM beneficiaries while long-term new site rollouts are still underway.
“Connectivity is only meaningful when it is actively used. As we continue to roll out our network, we must also help more Filipinos make the most of the digital opportunities that connectivity makes possible,” said PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Network Head Menardo G. Jimenez, Jr., who is also PLDT’s representative to the Presidential Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC).
Smart recently fired up sites serving geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), including in Argao, Cebu, to support education, agriculture and local businesses, as well as help local governments enhance the delivery of government services to their constituents through stronger network coverage.
Accompanying these network efforts, Smart has also intensified local activation campaigns to urge Bayanihan SIM beneficiaries to maximize their SIM cards. These include registration support activities, on-ground assistance, and handset and device raffle promos, among others, which are intended to encourage the activation of distributed SIMs.
Through the Bayanihan SIM program, Smart has already distributed more than 422,000 SIMs across 152 underserved and unserved sites nationwide. The company continues to collaborate with government partners to drive adoption and expand access in more locations.
These efforts are supported by an ongoing network modernization and expansion program that includes both interim and permanent connectivity solutions. While temporary technologies help accelerate service availability in remote areas, Smart is also fast-tracking the rollout of new sites to ensure reliable and long-term connectivity.
The Bayanihan SIM program is a key initiative supporting the government’s push for nationwide digital connectivity, underpinned by Smart’s mobile network and PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, the country's most extensive. The PLDT Group’s continued investment in enhancing its integrated fixed and wireless network is part of the Group’s broader commitment to deliver leveled-up customer experience across the country.
Smart’s continued support for the Bayanihan SIM program aligns with the broader goal of expanding access to digital services for underserved Filipinos, reinforcing the company’s mission of enabling connectivity that empowers communities, supports education, and creates opportunities for inclusive growth.
