TELECOM | PLDT links AI, smart meters, laser internet, silent authentication in systems overhaul
For a country balancing rapid digital adoption with infrastructure gaps, the question is less about technology availability and more about scale, affordability and measurable impact.
Artificial intelligence, smart power meters, laser-based broadband and silent mobile authentication are converging in a coordinated infrastructure push aimed at modernizing the Philippines’ digital backbone.
At the Philippine Telco Summit 2026 organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer Menardo “Butch” Jimenez Jr. framed AI not as a threat to jobs but as a productivity multiplier.
“AI is going to happen, whether we like it or not,” Jimenez said. “The real question is how we respond.”
AI capacity at the core
Central to that strategy is the VITRO Sta. Rosa hyperscale data center in Laguna, inaugurated in 2025, which hosts Pilipinas AI, described as a sovereign AI solutions stack designed to allow enterprises and institutions to deploy AI workloads locally.
Beyond enterprise clients, AI-in-a-Box programs are being rolled out to local government units, schools and MSMEs to accelerate AI adoption at the community level.
The framing is clear: infrastructure first, skills second.
Smart grids and billing transparency
In the utilities sector, PLDT Enterprise is working with Lin Man Power Technology to deploy smart meters nationwide. The initiative aims to improve billing accuracy, reduce technical and non-technical losses, and increase system visibility for electric cooperatives and private providers.
The meters use Smart Internet of Things SIMs to maintain connectivity across dispersed and geographically challenging areas.
“Our goal is to support organizations that play a vital role in delivering essential services,” said Jay Lagdameo of PLDT Enterprise.
Lin Man Chairman Jovita Yeo said reliable connectivity is critical to implementing smart metering at scale.
Laser internet to isolated communities
On the access front, laser-based wireless links are being deployed to bridge physical barriers in remote areas. In Talim Island, Rizal, an 11.8-kilometer light-based connection spans Laguna de Bay to deliver fiber-like speeds without undersea cables.
Teachers and barangay officials in Subay, Cardona, reported faster access to online materials and quicker processing of government services following deployment.
Eric Santiago, head of network strategy and architecture, said the deployment demonstrates how connectivity gaps in an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands can be addressed through alternative technologies.
Silent authentication against mobile fraud
As digital transactions increase, so do fraud risks. PLDT Enterprise has integrated SmartSafe SilentAccess into the 8×8 Connect platform, replacing SMS one-time passwords with SIM- and network-based authentication that runs in the background.
“SmartSafe SilentAccess represents an important step forward in strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure,” said Armie Sason of PLDT Enterprise.
Sylvain Chaperon of 8×8 said the integration enables businesses to authenticate mobile users more securely and seamlessly.
From pilot projects to infrastructure layer
These initiatives signal a shift from isolated pilots to a layered modernization strategy: AI-ready data centers, grid digitization, alternative broadband backhaul and telco-grade identity verification.
For a country balancing rapid digital adoption with infrastructure gaps, the question is less about technology availability and more about scale, affordability and measurable impact.
The next phase will test whether these deployments move beyond demonstration sites and enterprise showcases into sustained, nationwide systems that materially improve productivity, public services and consumer protection.
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