Photo shows (L-R) Aboitiz InfraCapital President and CEO Cosette Canilao; PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo Panlilio; Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz; PLDT Chairman Manuel Pangilinan; and Unity CEO Robin Sarmiento.

PLDT Inc., through its subsidiaries Smart Communications, Inc. and Digitel Mobile Philippines, and Unity Digital Infrastructure Inc., a joint venture between Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. and leading global private markets firm Partners Group, recently signed a Php 9.2 billion Sale and Purchase Agreement covering 650 telecommunications towers and related passive telecommunications infrastructure, as well as a Master Services Agreement covering the lease back of the said towers.

The transaction brings PLDT’s total number of towers to be monetized via sale and leaseback transactions to over 6,500, for more than PHP 86 billion. The deal also expands PLDT’s relationship with a strong independent tower company, backed by blue-chip domestic and international investors.

According to PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio: “As a result of this partnership with Unity, we expect further enhancements to our network quality, service excellence and customer experience across Visayas and Mindanao. The improved connectivity will support the digitalization of the Philippines, bringing benefits to all Filipinos.”