by PLDT Media Services | Aug 12, 2008

MANILA, Philippines, August 12, 2008 – Subic Telecommunications Company Inc. has officially changed its name to PLDT Subic Telecom Inc., a signal of its renewed strength and relationship with its parent company, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (“PLDT”). As a result, PLDT Subic Telecom is expected to offer an array of cutting-edge services for multinational companies and residents of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

PLDT Subic Telecom General Manager Henry B. Abes said that the company is all set to take advantage of parent company PLDT's national marketing campaign with service packages for broadband Internet and other telecommunications services.

“These packages include those offered by PLDT in Metro Manila and other provinces nationwide,” said Abes. “Of course, these services will be backed by the technology and unparalleled network of PLDT.”

PLDT has been expanding the reach and capacity of its telecommunications facilities through its NGN, or Next Generation Network technology, and resilient, high-capacity digital fiber optic network nationwide.

Abes said PLDT Subic Telecom will definitely benefit from the upgraded PLDT network infrastructure. Subic’s existing legacy network includes some facilities which have been around since the time the Americans rebuilt the Subic Naval Base.

Because of the aging infrastructure, subscribers were plagued by noisy lines, frequent downtimes, and slow Internet speed.

“PLDT Subic Telecom is about to change all that,” said Abes. “High-speed broadband Internet and clear lines of communication will allow locators and residents in Subic to enjoy the full benefits of what technology has to offer.”

Late last year, PLDT Subic Telecom completed its state-of-the-art digital fiber optic connection, paving the way for new investors in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. With the completion of this project, locators in the Freeport Zone are now part of PLDT's robust nationwide backbone for increased and very much improved data connectivity.

The project involved the expansion of PLDT’s high-bandwidth optical transport connection to Subic which put in place 286 kilometers of fiber optic cables. SubicTel is now part of an unparalleled network that can support the requirements of locators in the Freeport Zone.

The first leg of the new fiber optic connection entailed connecting the operations center of Korean shipbuilding firm, Hanjin, located at the Redondo Peninsula in Subic to SubicTel in the Freeport Zone in late July 2007.

The fiber optic link spans about 25 kilometers, passing through the town of Subic and Olongapo City in Zambales province. Hanjin, which is investing $1.7 billion for its shipyard in the Zone, is now directly connected to their headquarters in Korea by way of PLDT's international link.