PLDT Inc. said over the weekend it successfully tested 50G Passive Optical Networks (50GPON), the latest and fastest fiber technology in the country.
“After successfully testing XGS PON in 2021, PLDT is taking it further by testing the latest and fastest technology in Passive Optical Networks called 50GPON, which will allow five times faster speeds than XGSPON and 20 times faster speeds than GPON, which is the most widely used technology by fiber providers in the Philippines,” said PLDT and Smart Communications vice president and head of network strategy and transformation office Arvin Siena.
PON technology is used by PLDT for its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service nationwide.
PLDT said 50GPON would enable the group to provide 50 gigabits per second (Gbps) speeds for every equipment port or several times faster than the speeds of current technologies GPON (2.5 Gbps) and XGS PON (10 Gbps) are able to deliver.
“This latest milestone is a testament to the Group’s commitment to always be ahead in harnessing the best technologies and innovations to deliver enhanced services and elevated customer experience to the Filipino public,” PLDT and Smart head of network Eric Santiago said.
“While we have been offering boosted speeds to our customers even before the pandemic, this new technology further ensures that we can provide the best and fastest service to homes nationwide,” he said.
PLDT Group said that as of end-September 2023, it expanded its total fiber footprint to over 1.1 million cable kilometers, consisting of over 0.2 million cable kilometers of international fiber and about 0.9 million cable kilometers of domestic fiber.
Homes passed reached more than 17.3 million homes in 69 percent of the country’s municipalities/towns, while its total number of fiber ports rose to 6.15 million covering over 18,000 barangays nationwide.