PLDT, Smart, and DITO Make History With Landmark Infrastructure Sharing Agreement

In a move that could help improve mobile connectivity across the Philippines, PLDT Inc., Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), and DITO Telecommunity have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together on sharing key telecommunications infrastructure.

While the country's major telecom providers continue to compete for subscribers, this agreement highlights an area where collaboration can benefit everyone. Instead of building separate facilities in the same locations, the three companies plan to make better use of existing infrastructure, allowing them to expand coverage faster while making network investments more efficient.

The agreement focuses on reciprocal resource sharing without any monetary exchange between the companies. Rather than leasing infrastructure through traditional commercial arrangements, each party will provide access to eligible assets under mutually agreed terms.

The collaboration covers three major areas:

    Reciprocal access to eligible macro tower sites
    Colocation of in-building solutions (IBS) for commercial and indoor locations 

    Sharing submarine cable capacity through Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) arrangements

For customers, these initiatives could translate into improved signal availability in more areas, better indoor coverage, and stronger international connectivity over time. The actual rollout will depend on future implementation plans, but making better use of existing facilities can help reduce deployment timelines compared to building entirely new infrastructure.

One of the biggest advantages of the agreement is reducing unnecessary duplication of network investments. Instead of constructing separate towers or installing similar equipment in the same buildings, the companies can maximize infrastructure that's already in place.

This approach not only helps optimize capital spending but can also speed up network expansion in areas where additional coverage is needed. It's a practical strategy that's already common in many countries, where infrastructure sharing allows operators to improve services while avoiding redundant construction.

PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan emphasized that improving connectivity is a shared responsibility among telecommunications providers. "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,"

DITO Telecommunity President and CEO Eric Alberto also highlighted the value of the collaboration. “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.”

The agreement reflects the parties' shared commitment to strengthening the country's digital infrastructure through greater industry collaboration. Rather than building separate infrastructure in the same locations, PLDT, Smart, and DITO will maximize the use of existing macro sites and in-building facilities, reducing unnecessary duplication of network investments.

The collaboration also enables the companies to deploy capital more efficiently, accelerate network expansion, and deliver broader coverage and more reliable connectivity for Filipino consumers while supporting a more resilient and future-ready telecommunications ecosystem.

-

Subscribe to our social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Twitter, and YouTube. to receive the latest news and updates.