PLDT Smart SME Nation To Expand Coverage In 2016

PLDT Smart SME Nation will focus in expanding its coverage this 2016 — tapping more micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to go digital — its new head Albert Mitchell Locsin said.

“Our main goal is to really get the coverage we want to better serve the SME nation businesses,” Locsin said in an interview.

“What do I mean about coverage? To cover the country better. So from the farthest flung cities of Mindanao, covering the Visayas properly, from Pangasinan all the way to Tuguegarao ,” he added.

Currently, PLDT Smart SME Nation serves around 250,000 MSMEs out of almost one million MSMEs registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

MSMEs are dubbed as the backbone of the Philippine economy as they comprised 99 percent of total establishments in the country and accounted for more than 60 percent of the total employment.

However, only 1.0 percent of local SMEs are connected to digital platform.

This is despite huge opportunities in e-commerce as the Philippines is one of the emerging markets worldwide with highest smartphone penetration at 55 percent of its population or around 26 million smartphone users as of 2014.

Fifty-two percent of smartphone users purchased products and services through their device.

“I like, PLDT and Smart, to be in the forefront, to drive ICT and digital, to bring everybody online so they can compete nationwide and compete globally. It’s the only way of growth,” Locsin noted.

“Our second goal is to drive digital and ICT in this space,” he added.

Locsin said PLDT Smart SME Nation is moving towards simplifying its products and solutions for this year.

Locsin, who is also the PLDT vice president, said the PLDT Group has a record capital expenditure for this year at Php43 billion. This will be invested for capacity and resiliency of its fixed and wireless networks.

“From 3G and 4G perspective, we can reach the far flung cities. It’s coverage then add capacity and resiliency,” he said. (PNA) FPV/KMC