PLDT, Smart, and DITO Join Forces to Eliminate Mobile Dead Zones

In a significant move toward strengthening the Philippines’ digital infrastructure, PLDT Inc., Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), and DITO Telecommunity have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pursue strategic resource-sharing initiatives that will expand network coverage, improve service reliability, and deliver better connectivity for millions of Filipinos.

The landmark collaboration underscores a shared industry commitment to accelerating digital inclusion by maximizing existing telecommunications infrastructure rather than duplicating investments—allowing the country’s leading telecom players to serve more communities faster and more efficiently.

Smarter Infrastructure, Better Connectivity

The agreement establishes a collaborative framework centered on reciprocal resource sharing, with no monetary exchange between the participating companies. Instead, the partnership focuses on optimizing existing assets to improve nationwide connectivity while reducing unnecessary infrastructure duplication.

The MOU covers three key areas of telecommunications infrastructure:

• Reciprocal Macro Site Access, allowing each company to use eligible telecommunications tower sites owned by the other parties, helping accelerate network deployment and improve coverage.
• In-Building Solution (IBS) Colocation, enabling PLDT, Smart, and DITO to share telecommunications infrastructure within commercial buildings and indoor locations, resulting in stronger and more consistent indoor mobile connectivity.
• Submarine Cable Capacity Sharing through Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) arrangements, allowing the companies to optimize existing international cable capacity and strengthen the country’s global connectivity infrastructure.

By leveraging existing facilities, the partnership is expected to enhance network performance, improve customer experience, and extend reliable connectivity to more Filipinos nationwide.

A Shared Commitment to Digital Inclusion

For PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, the agreement demonstrates that industry competitors can work together in areas that benefit the nation as a whole.

“Connecting the country is a responsibility that we all share as Philippine telcos. This agreement reflects that, even as we compete in the marketplace, we can collaborate where it matters the most: accelerating digital inclusion, helping connect every Filipino, and creating greater opportunities for our people and our nation,” Pangilinan said.

Echoing the same vision, DITO Telecommunity President and CEO Eric R. Alberto emphasized that the partnership is an important first step toward delivering better services for Filipino consumers.

“This partnership that we are forging today is a modest one. This allows both companies to deliver much better services for all our respective customers. May this partnership usher and blossom into many more things so that we can have meaningful results for our companies, and more importantly, for the betterment of services for all our respective customers,” Alberto said.

Building a More Resilient Digital Future

Beyond improving network performance, the agreement represents a more sustainable approach to telecommunications infrastructure development.

Instead of constructing separate facilities in the same locations, PLDT, Smart, and DITO will maximize existing macro sites and in-building infrastructure, enabling more efficient capital deployment while accelerating network expansion across underserved and high-demand areas.

The collaboration is expected to reduce redundant investments, strengthen infrastructure resilience, and support the growing digital needs of consumers, businesses, and communities throughout the country.

As demand for fast, reliable connectivity continues to grow, this landmark partnership demonstrates how industry collaboration can complement healthy competition—creating a stronger, more future-ready telecommunications ecosystem that benefits not only the participating companies but, more importantly, every Filipino connected to the digital world.