MAY 26, 2009 -- This year, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) will launch an FTTH platform to deliver high-speed data services to residences and buildings.
The new platform will be able to simultaneously deliver voice, video, and data services at higher speeds and greater capacities than DSL or cable technologies.
"Fiber to the home is a quantum-leap forward in terms of broadband services. This demonstrates PLDT's commitment to offer its customers cutting-edge communication technologies," says Napoleon L. Nazareno, PLDT president and chief executive officer.
Initial tests done by PLDT have shown the capabilities of FTTH. At a demonstration facility at the PLDT's head office, an FTTH-enabled computer posted download speeds up to 94.86 Mbps and upload rates of 69.39 Mbps, according to PLDT network head Rolando G. Peña.
At those speeds, it would take only 1 s to download a 5-Mbyte MP3 file, 3 s for a 35-Mbyte video clip, and only 1 min to download an 800-Mbyte movie.
"Depending on how we'll design the product, we can provide gigabit speeds to homes, not just megabit speeds," Peña says.
The new service will be initially marketed to high-bandwidth residential customers such as households in high-income subdivisions and condominiums.
Pilot areas for FTTH will include areas such as Bonifacio Global City, Forbes Park, Urdaneta Village, Ayala Alabang, Dasmariñas Village, Wack Wack, Ayala Heights, Valle Verde, and certain areas covered by PLDT Subictel and PLDT Clarktel.
"We're targeting 1,000 customers this year and expand to 10,000 later on," says Virgilio Ofina, senior manager of GMM NGN Access Provisioning and Transport Engineering Division.
Services such as 3D holographic high-definition television and video games can also be delivered via FTTH.
"FTTH represents a new level of services for our fixed-line business. If we could build this extensively in all the major cities and municipalities, FTTH will redefine and reshape our fixed-line business," concludes Pangilinan.
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