BARCELONA—March 5, 2025—Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), the wireless subsidiary of the Philippines’ largest integrated telco network PLDT Inc. (PLDT), and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are working together to ramp up Smart’s data and artificial intelligence (A.I.) transformation.
With petabytes of data at its disposal, Smart aims to enhance customer experiences through A.I.-powered applications. Smart will use AWS’s services to unify Smart’s data platform, enabling advanced analytics and machine learning (ML) for personalized services. Transitioning to a cloud-based platform using AWS and Databricks will accelerate Smart’s time-to-market and improve operational efficiency.
“Smart’s approach to A.I. is one driven by relentless innovation. This is why we’ve entered this long-term partnership with AWS to build the A.I.-driven telco of the future,” said Anastacio “Boy” Martirez, Smart Chief Operating Officer. “Amazon Web Services is not just a leader in the digital space. It is a driving force behind entire economies, ours included. As we enter the age of A.I., there could be no better partner to help us navigate this transformation.”
From L-R: Anchit Mendoza, AWS Enterprise Account Lead; Vikram Rao, ASEAN Director Enterprise and GTM Leader; Sri Elaprolu, Director, AWS GenAI Innovation Center; Geeta Chaudhary, Managing Director, AWS Professional Services, Asia Pacific and Japan; Ankur Pandey, Head of Partner Business, AWS Professional Services, Asia Pacific and Japan; Anastacio "Boy" Martirez, Smart COO; Audrey Oliva, Smart VP Strategic Advanced Analytics & CVM; Ana Liza Alarios, Smart Wireless Business Finance Head; Dheeraj Kumar, Smart Chief AI Advisor; Cecily Ng, Databricks VP & GM of ASEAN & Greater China; Precious Lim, AWS PH Country Leader; Niket Vaidya, OneByZero CEO
“And we don’t want a piecemeal approach to A.I.,” he added. “This is why we’re developing what we call a ‘Center for Acceleration’ of A.I. We plan to gather all the best minds in A.I., and this partnership with AWS is a big step towards that direction. It will give us first-hand access not just to the expertise of our partners from AWS, but also to the entirety of their generative A.I. services.”
“AI's true power lies in its ability to drive business outcomes, and Smart presents a tremendous opportunity—not just for us to provide our services, but also to collaborate on how AI can drive real impact in one of the most tech-savvy markets in Southeast Asia,” said Geeta Chaudhary, Managing Director, AWS Professional Services, Asia Pacific and Japan. “Telcos in the region are leading the charge in harnessing the transformative power of data, and Smart is at the forefront of this revolution. We are excited to embark on this journey together.”
“Data is the fuel that powers AI and many companies are sitting on treasure troves of data. Our goal is to help our customers unlock data intelligence – AI tailored to the organization’s unique data to solve domain-specific business challenges. We are pleased that Smart has selected the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform on AWS for its data and AI transformation,” said Cecily Ng, Vice President and General Manager of ASEAN and Greater China, Databricks. “Together, we will deliver more value to all of Smart's customers with real-time insights to meet their business needs.”
This modernization project with AWS Professional Services is supported by key partners of AWS, including Databricks. Thus far, Smart and its parent company PLDT have launched several generative AI use cases meant to deliver real-time, personalized telco promotions, manage customer comments, address data privacy queries, and provide customer support, among other services and solutions.
About Smart Communications
Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is a wholly owned wireless communications and digital services subsidiary of PLDT Inc., the Philippines’ largest and only integrated telecommunications company. Smart serves approximately 97% of the country’s population with its combined 4G/LTE and 5G network, providing mobile communications services, high-speed internet connectivity, and access to digital services and content, supporting the country’s growing digital economy, and providing the best customer experience for an increasingly digital Filipino lifestyle.
