Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), the wireless subsidiary of PLDT, and PLDT Enterprise, the corporate arm of PLDT, announced a new strategic partnership with global telecommunications leader Ericsson. The companies are set to explore Mobile Private Networks (MPN) designed to address the unique needs of the manufacturing sector in the Philippines.
Through this collaboration, Smart and PLDT Enterprise will leverage Ericsson’s expertise in private 5G to offer tailor-made network solutions for enterprises, helping them maximize the capabilities of connected machinery and next-generation manufacturing processes.
Driving Innovation to Accelerate Business Transformation
The partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of MPN within the local manufacturing industry, enhancing operational efficiency through more reliable, real-time data exchange, and seamless automation. By creating dedicated wireless networks, manufacturers will gain more granular control over their production lines, significantly improving output while minimizing waste.
This collaboration also enables knowledge-sharing among Smart, PLDT Enterprise and Ericsson to explore various MPN use cases and best practices for the manufacturing industry. By harnessing the potential of 5G, this partnership will help enterprises respond more quickly to the changing needs of their industry.
Mitch Locsin, First Vice President and Head of Enterprise and International Core Business at PLDT and Smart, expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying, “Our collaboration with Ericsson on Mobile Private Networks signifies a major step forward in supporting the manufacturing sector’s journey towards digital transformation. With Ericsson’s global expertise in private 5G and our deep understanding of local industry needs, we are poised to empower our enterprise clients with the technology they need to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.”
Elevating the Manufacturing Sector
The primary use case for MPNs in manufacturing is connected machinery, which enables enhanced control over production processes. Through MPN, manufacturers can reduce downtime, optimize machinery placement, and enable real-time monitoring of operations. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) and other advanced technologies will allow companies to improve production flexibility, streamline workflows, and ultimately, achieve greater scalability.
In a statement, Daniel Ode, Head of Ericsson Singapore, Philippines, and Brunei said, “Private 5G networks provide reliable, scalable, secure, and agile connectivity to handle the high-performance demands of modern smart facilities. Ericsson, Smart, and PLDT Enterprise will promote the value proposition and capabilities offered by MPN technology towards the manufacturing industry and enhance productivity and efficiency.”
Through this partnership, Smart and PLDT Enterprise will leverage the capabilities of PLDT Innolab, its Innovation Laboratory, to conduct a series of demonstrative activities with manufacturing clients. These sessions will showcase how MPN can help assess its potential to resolve critical pain points and address the complex challenges facing the manufacturing industry today.
It will include exploratory activities to analyze real-world demonstrations of MPN solutions and their impact on critical manufacturing processes such as predictive maintenance, remote monitoring, and smart factory automation.
Additionally, the collaboration will help the PLDT group gather insights into MPN best practices globally, accelerating the adoption of private 5G networks in the Philippines and positioning PLDT Enterprise as a leader in delivering bespoke, managed IT solutions for enterprises.
As businesses continue to embrace digital transformation, Smart and PLDT Enterprise remain committed to offering innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of its business clients. Partnerships with global technology leaders like Ericsson, Smart, and PLDT Enterprise are empowering smarter, more efficient, and future-ready industries in the Philippines, advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by fostering sustainable growth and innovation in smart manufacturing.
