Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) has secured its first-ever green loan, amounting P2 billion from Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company to fund the expansion of its fifth-generation (5G) network across the Philippines.
The green loan will be used for continuous upgrades and expansion of Smart’s network infrastructure to enhance both energy efficiency and customer experience.
The 5G technology is more energy efficient per gigabyte of data compared to previous technologies like 4G/LTE and can carry more data traffic at a faster pace.
The 5G network also includes the capability to shift to a low-energy mode to optimize consumption based on network traffic, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
PLDT and Smart chief financial officer and chief risk management officer Danny Yu said the loan underscores Smart’s commitment to a low-carbon digital future.
“This green loan is more than a financial milestone—it demonstrates Smart’s participation in shaping a low-carbon digital future,” Yu said.
“By investing in energy-efficient technologies, we are pursuing business growth and efficiency, while being mindful of our impact to the environment,” he said.
