BUSINESSMAN Salvador B. Zamora II, who chairs listed Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (PT&T), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese firm CITIC Networks Co. Ltd. to offer WiFi internet access, digital television and satellite network services in the Philippines.
In a statement over the weekend, PT&T said Tranzen Group, Inc., another company chaired by Mr. Zamora, signed the MoU with the Chinese firm.
鈥淭he MoU includes construction of infrastructure for nationwide WiFi Internet connectivity in various capital cities and towns throughout the Philippines. The signing of the business agreement was held in Beijing during the visit of President Rodrigo R. Duterte in China,鈥 it said.
PT&T will be in charge of implementing the project by allowing its fiber internet network to be used for the rollout.
鈥淧T&T鈥檚 100% Fiber Internet network and host of IT services will complement the advanced infrastructure designs of Tranzen,鈥 Mr. Zamora was quoted as saying.
Beijing-based CITIC, meanwhile, is in the business of system integration and IT consultancy services.
Under the MoU, the companies will build a WiFi network using PT&T鈥檚 fiber assets, which will be used to deliver emergency and information services, digital TV and satellite network services.
PT&T President and Chief Executive Officer James G. Velasquez said the signed agreement is in line with the company鈥檚 plans to expand in the country.
鈥淧T&T is fully on board with the government鈥檚 initiative to modernize the country鈥檚 ICT landscape and we are participating in the Public WiFi program. We also plan to develop capabilities in Smart Cities and Emergency Response in line with the MoU,鈥 he was quoted as saying.
In 2017, PT&T also signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Chinese firm Chengdu Zhongxing Tiantong Technology Corp. for putting up free wireless broadband services in public areas in the country. — Denise A. Valdez
