PLDT subsidiary changes name, improves services

MANILA, Philippines - The Olongapo-based subsidiary of telecommunications giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) on Tuesday announced a range of new services and a change in the corporate name. Subic Telecommunications Company Inc. (SubicTel) officially changed its name to PLDT Subic Telecom Inc. to indicate its relationship with the parent company, PLDT said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange. The strengthened relationship between the two companies will mean better service offerings, the disclosure read, particularly geared to multinational companies and residents of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, PLDT Subic Telecom General Manager Henry B. Abes said. Among these new services is broadband internet that will take advantage of PLDT’s new investments in its next generation network (NGN). PLDT Subic Telecom will also take advantage of PLDT's national marketing campaign with service packages for broadband services. “These packages include those offered by PLDT in Metro Manila and other provinces nationwide," said Abes. He added that PLDT Subic Telecom will benefit from the upgraded PLDT network infrastructure since some of the Freeport’s existing legacy networks have been around since the time the Americans rebuilt the Subic Naval Base. Abes said “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 which involved the expansion of PLDT’s high-bandwidth optical transport connection to Subic with 286 kilometers of fiber optic cables. The new connection linked the operations center of Korean shipbuilding firm Hanjin, located at the Redondo Peninsula in Subic to SubicTel in the Freeport Zone in 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, the disclosure stated. – Veronica C. Silva, GMANews.TV