Connecting an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands requires multiple solutions to ensure that the benefits of faster, more reliable, and more affordable internet can reach more Filipinos, enabling hybrid work set-ups, online learning, and the delivery of e-government and e-healthcare services in remote and far-flung areas.

As the Philippine government intensifies efforts to bridge the digital divide, PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc (Smart) are firing up around 200 sites this year to serve remote areas. This forms part of the Private Sector Advisory Council’s Digital Infrastructure (PSAC DI) commitment to build new cell sites aimed at expanding connectivity in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) and empowering millions of Filipinos with improved digital access.