PLDT and Smart broadened the perspectives of scientists and researchers from the Ateneo de Manila University’s (ADMU) Research on Optical Sciences, Engineering, and Systems (ROSES) under the Department of Physics and the Ateneo Innovation Center. Through the PLDT-Smart Technolab, ROSES members had a glimpse of upcoming advancements in wireless technology that they could dive deeper into.
“It is crucial for us to continue harnessing innovation and nurturing emerging technologies while identifying the next generation of solutions,” said Radames Vittorio Zalameda, Head of Wireless Network Strategy and Architecture at Smart. “We are collaborating on various proofs of concept to strengthen our infrastructure’s resilience and deliver a superior customer experience.”
The visit is part of the PLDT Group’s engagement with partner-schools under the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) where ADMU has been a member since 2003. SWEEP is the country’s first and longest-running Philippine industry-academe linkage program, run by PLDT and Smart.
“PLDT and Smart believe in investing in the youth. That’s why for more than 20 years, we have been partnering with the colleges and universities to help produce industry-ready graduates and technopreneurs who can help shape the future through digital innovations,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, an Ateneo graduate herself and the AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart.
The PLDT-Smart Technolab serves as a sandbox for the PLDT Group to test cutting-edge technologies that have yet to be rolled out commercially. These advanced communication solutions can potentially revolutionize customer experience. Among the innovations being explored by the PLDT Group are Open Radio Access Network (ORAN), network disaggregation, extended reality, and advancements in cloud and home connectivity solutions.
“It’s interesting to witness how a device can be operated remotely through the use of communications technology. It is an innovation that we can look into to automate some of our tools in our laboratory,” said Dr. Benjamin Dingel, ROSES Research Head and Affiliate Professor at the Department of Physics.
“PLDT and Smart’s aspiration to connect people is also aligned with our research interests in developing technologies that will meet the market demand for connectivity, as well as look for ways to propel the internet into the future,” said Kent Gellada, a fifth-year student taking up Applied Physics with Material Science Engineering.
The organization’s experience at the facility opens a gateway of opportunities for research in optics. Optical science is a field of study focused on the behavior, properties, and manipulation of light and how it interacts with certain materials. It traverses multiple disciplines including physics, engineering, and materials science. Fiber optics is what powers PLDT’s nationwide transport network, a critical infrastructure that serves as the highway for data transfer between the internet and end users, allowing PLDT and Smart to deliver high speed broadband and mobile internet to customers.
PLDT has the most extensive fiber optic infrastructure in the Philippines. As of 2024, its fiber network spans over 1.15 million cable kilometers, covering both domestic and international routes. The company has reached nearly 18 million homes across 70% of the country’s towns and 91% of provinces. This fiber infrastructure also supports the Smart mobile network, which covers 97% of the population nationwide.
Underscoring the value of promoting STEM education in the country, SWEEP and other initiatives to welcome students to the PLDT-Smart Technolab are aligned with the PLDT Group’s much broader program to promote meaningful innovation and inclusive, quality education. These are also aimed at helping country achieve UNSDG 4 on Quality Education and UNSDG 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
