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Tag: PLDT

  • PLDT offers bigger, faster Home Biz Plans

    PLDT offers bigger, faster Home Biz Plans

    PLDT introduces the all-new Home Biz Fibr Asenso Plans with faster speeds and better e-commerce solutions especially designed for home-based entrepreneurs to better help them in mastering their businesses at home.

    The new Home Biz Asenso Fibr plans enable these home-based entrepreneurs to do more with their businesses with faster internet speeds, free digital solutions from e-commerce partners, seamless unlimited calls to any PLDT landline and to any Smart, Sun or TNT mobile number, and a free CAT 6 Prepaid Home Wi-fi as a mobile back-up internet so that their business always stays connected.

    “With the challenges of the pandemic, entrepreneurs are able to thrive by quickly responding to the need of their businesses to shift to digital. We have upgraded our PLDT Home Biz Asenso Plans to fully equip our entrepreneurs in making that digital transformation – all within the safety of their own homes. Aside from providing them with faster and seamless connectivity, we are enabling them with digital tools such as a website builder, and payment and delivery solutions,” said Patrick Tang, Vice President and Head of PLDT Home Biz.

    Connections made Faster, Stronger, Bigger and Simpler

    Now home-based entrepreneurs can enjoy up to 60 Mbps speeds with the all-new PLDT Home Biz Asenso Fibr Plans.

    Connectivity has also become stronger as each PLDT Home Biz subscription comes with a free CAT6 Prepaid Home Wi-fi unit pre-loaded with 10GB data as a mobile back-up to ensure that the business is always connected.

    Home Biz subscribers also can now seamlessly and conveniently communicate with anyone and everywhere using just their PLDT landline, as the new Asenso Fibr Plans comes with unlimited calls to PLDT, Smart, Sun, and TNT networks.

    Beyond connectivity, PLDT Home Biz also powers home-based entrepreneurs with a robust e-commerce ecosystem– from online store building to payment and delivery platforms. PLDT Home Biz has teamed up with the country’s top digital solution providers for end-to-end business solutions such as online store builder and hosting by UnionBank GlobalLinker, secure and hassle-free online payments by PayMaya, and delivery options by Grab and LBC.

    PLDT Home Biz is also supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through a partnership that gives entrepreneurs direct access to the latest business trends, learning opportunities, and events organized by DTI.

    Home-based entrepreneurs can now master their business from home better, faster, and stronger with the new PLDT Home Biz plans. Visit www.pldthome.com/biz for more details.

    REFERENCE:

    Abbey G. Malvar

    Senior Media Relations Officer | Stratworks Inc.

    +63 9177088346  +63 9219156130

  • PLDT is fastest broadband in 16 out of 17 PH Regions – Ookla

    PLDT is fastest broadband in 16 out of 17 PH Regions – Ookla

    PLDT records the fastest average fixed download and upload speeds in 16 out of 17 key regions in the Philippines, based on the Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® data as of Q1 2021.

    According to the latest quarter of Ookla® analysis, PLDT widens their lead of average download speed results in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas, Davao Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, Soccsksargen, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga, MIMAROPA, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).1

    “PLDT has been aggressively expanding our fiber network footprint nationwide, which has been key to the massive and consistent improvement of our internet speeds,” says Butch G. Jimenez, Senior Vice President and Head of PLDT Home Business.

    Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, assessed the best network speeds attained across a given network, accounting for tests that are taken on various Speedtest® applications from different devices connected to a fixed network.

    Undisputed Telco Leader

    PLDT continues to set the standard for fast internet speeds in the Philippines with its repeat wins as the fastest fixed network at the Ookla Speedtest AwardsTM by recording the highest Speed Score™, top download and upload speeds compared to other telcos in the country. In 2020, PLDT achieved the highest Speed Score™ of 24.79 and 27.28 in the 1st and 2nd half of the year.2

    PLDT has the most powerful and fastest fiber-to-the-home network that can deliver up to 1000 Mbps symmetrical speeds. Jimenez shares, “We’ve introduced faster plans bundled with the latest WiFi 6 and Mesh solutions so our customers can maximize the speeds that our network can deliver.”

    With the widest fiber network footprint in the Philippines at 478,000 kilometer lines for the first quarter of 2021, PLDT continues to expand and now has 3.9 Million broadband subscribers.

    “This pandemic has made the Internet an essential for millions of Filipino families. PLDT Home remains committed to power their needs for work, study, family entertainment, and business with the fastest network and the latest digital solutions,” concluded Jimenez.

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    1 Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data average download speeds for top providers in specified regions for Q1 2021. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

    2 Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data for Q1–Q2 and Q3–Q4 2021. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

    REFERENCE:

    JEAN RICELLE A. AQUINO

    Sr. Media Relations Officer

    StratWorks, Inc.

    0927 027 8975

  • Making connections that matter: Riki Flo talks about rediscovering family bonding at home

    Making connections that matter: Riki Flo talks about rediscovering family bonding at home

    Learn how to make the most out of your whole home wifi for the family

    Many families are now looking forward to the start of the new year at home. Despite the hardships and challenges that the past months of quarantine have posed, there are still so many things that everyone can be thankful for, especially that staying safe at home has brought everyone closer together.

    When everybody welcomed the new decade full of hopes and excitement, no one could have predicted how a health crisis would put an indefinite pause on their plans and resolutions for the year. However, radio personality and wonder-mom Riki Flo felt blessed to have spent the time in quarantine with the company of her loving family.

    She says, “I realized that spending time at home with people you love the most is a luxury, and when life got too real, I was reminded of that. And though we may not have had as many adventures outside this year, we made many memories at home and that allowed us to become closer.”

    Bonding in the new normal

    When the news of the lockdown first broke in the country, Riki remembers how she prepared for the quarantine by purchasing art supplies for her children. A mother of two young and energetic kids, Calix and Dandy, she knew that the isolation would be a difficult period of adjustment for them and wanted to brighten things up.

    “Being isolated from the world is tough and if we were going to be holed up for a while, I wanted them to enjoy themselves at home. I bought different art supplies and creative materials in case they wanted to experiment and make crafts,” she said.

    She also introduced her little ones to the world of gardening. Lately, their family has been nurturing a newfound love for plants, flowers, and even insects. This little hobby of theirs has also turned out to be a learning experience as they would be looking up the species and reading more about them on the internet.

    Embracing the new digital lifestyle

    Going online has not just been a source of latest news, updates, and additional knowledge for Riki’s family. She goes as far as to say that the internet has made life in quarantine more bearable for her and her kids.

    “With reliable connections from PLDT Fibr, we were able to keep in touch with our different family members and friends through video calls. We also enjoyed family movie nights by watching new and old films together, and we even fell in love with K-pop,” she expresses. It seems that through streaming music videos of Korean idols that Riki uncovered a special hidden talent of her children: dancing!

    Riki also mentions how four-year-old Calix was able to continue with his kindergarten classes online seamlessly with help of PLDT. With PLDT’s new whole home wifi mesh system, they have been able to enjoy consistent connectivity with no dead spots in the household. This has enabled them to discover new ways to work, learn, and play from every corner of the room, including the kids’ newly transformed study area.

    “At first, it was difficult to get him to understand why everything had to be through a computer screen right now, but we have all adapted and our mornings are much smoother now,” she shares. “I’m also thankful because my husband and I tag team when it comes to Calix’s online classes. He prints the materials and I sit in and facilitate the actual class.”

    One thing that Riki is grateful for in this year is how she was able to understand her family more. She says, “As a mom, I can say that I saw and learned more about my kids, about their interests and their talents. I wouldn’t have been able to get closer to them if I wasn’t working from home.”

    She also adds, “It’s all about being patient with the kids and learning how to stretch things out. It’s very important that we can support and guide them as these experiences and memories are part of their childhood.”

    This new year can be full of challenges, but it is also packed with hope and anticipation. With PLDT making sure that our connections are faster and more stable than ever, we can be excited to face the days to come.

    Know more about PLDT Home’s latest Whole Home Wifi System at https://pldthome.com/wholehomesystem and see how you can rediscover connections and activities at home.

    REFERENCE:

    JEAN RICELLE A. AQUINO

    Sr. Media Relations Officer

    StratWorks, Inc.

    0927 027 8975

  • Five Types of Dads We Love to Spend Time with at Home Now

    Five Types of Dads We Love to Spend Time with at Home Now

    Dads may differ in personalities. There are those who are strict, lenient, and there are those who are very quirky and playful. But there’s one common characteristic that we love about them: they will always have a funny “dad joke” or two on-hand whenever we need them.

    Before being quarantined at home, dads were busybodies, waking up at five in the morning and going to work for their daily grind. However, the situation in the past few months has required them to stay at home, finding ways to adjust to their new normal, thus exposing and unveiling his all-so-unique charms and quirks for the cringe-worthy enjoyment of the whole family. With Father’s Day around the corner, here’s a tribute to the types of dads everyone has encountered during quarantine:

    The BTS (Behind-the-Scene) Dad

    He’s the kind of person who loves to work behind the scenes – lenient enough to let the kids discover new things on their own and amply quiet when the wife takes the centerstage for the talk (LOL!). Now that he’s working remotely at home, he’d spend most of his days in his “hidden-from-the-kids” station, answering emails on his laptop, attending online meetings, and even spending sleepless nights catching up with tasks. He does it all to provide for the family during these trying times. And while he is certainly working behind the scenes at home, he knows when to take his breaks and spend time with his family – whether it’s sharing meals on the table, helping the kids with their home studies, or enjoying a relaxing afternoon with his wife.

    The Mom’s Right-Hand Man

    Dads love food and there are those who are a natural pro at cooking and know their way around the kitchen. But there are also dads who have spent quarantine trying to level up their cooking skills and watching cooking videos online. He is the type who brings his phone to the kitchen, with the latest cooking video playing as he cooks and follows the recipe. Often, the mom and the kids have to stay by his side and make sure he does not make a mess in the kitchen.

    The Home Masterchef

    Dads love food and there are those who are a natural pro at cooking and know their way around the kitchen. But there are also dads who have spent quarantine trying to level up their cooking skills and watching cooking videos online. He is the type who brings his phone to the kitchen, with the latest cooking video playing as he cooks and follows the recipe. Often, the mom and the kids have to stay by his side and make sure he does not make a mess in the kitchen.

    The “Peer-ent”: Ever reliable peer everyone runs to

    These days, dads have adopted a new and modern parenting style known as ‘peer-renting’. This allows them to become their kids’ trusted friend, being the one they run to for helpful advice, for when they are heartbroken, or for when they feel down. He is the best at communicating, has a unique humor, and knows the right words to lighten the mood. During quarantine, he has been listening to his kids’ stories, relearning their interests and joining in their favorite activities – whether it is bingeing a TV series or playing a video game.

    The Hypebeast Dad

    He is the type of dad who is always excited to share the hype at home. He has probably bought the newest video games and gadgets, and stayed up all night playing with his kids. He also loves being updated with the latest online trends so that he will never miss out on a fun discussion at home. As embarrassing as it can be, he even knows TikTok challenges and is always game to record if he gets the chance. Truly, it is the dads who have made life in quarantine easier and better for the family with their corny jokes and dance moves to show. And with strong connection powered by PLDT Home, you can celebrate with them on his special day and make more fun moments by watching the most viral pranks and enjoying online trends he’d surely want to add to his long list of funny stunts.

    REFERENCE:

    JEAN RICELLE A. AQUINO

    Sr. Media Relations Officer

    StratWorks, Inc.

    0927 027 8975

  • PLDT Home extends Free Speedboost until May 31

    PLDT Home extends Free Speedboost until May 31

    In line with its efforts to keep families safe and connected at home during the enhanced community quarantine, leading telecoms and digital services provider PLDT Inc. announced last May 6, 2020 of the extension of its free Speedboost for PLDT Home Fibr customers and free NDD calls for all postpaid subscribers until May 31, 2020.

    Moreover, this extension of free Speedboost and free NDD calls covers not only Fibr customers in the highly affected areas of Luzon but has also been expanded to benefit Fibr customers in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

    The free Speedboost provides Fibr customers a minimum speed of 25 Mbps, which is beneficial for homes that have multiple Internet users and thus require high bandwidth to simultaneously access different web and streaming sites.

    The free NDD calls enables families to use their landlines to call relatives and friends in different parts of the country.

    “We are one with every Filipino family as we strive to rise above these trying times. As we face the uncertainties of the global health crisis, we are keeping our commitment to provide the strongest connections and reliable digital solutions that our customers need to work, study, and take care of their loved ones at home,” said Al Panlilio, PLDT Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer

    Free Access to Content

    PLDT Home Wifi and PLDT Home Volume-based plan subscribers will also continue to have FREE access to verified government and news websites such as the Department of Health (DOH), National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), News 5, Philippine Star Global, Business World, CNN Philippines, ABS-CBN News, and GMA News Online.

    iFlixVIP access for subscribers of PLDT Home Fibr Plan 1899 and up has also been extended until May 31, 2020. This will allow families to enjoy thousands of TV shows, movies, and everything on iflix for their bonding activities while staying at home.

    Financial Support through Installment Payment Program

    PLDT Home has also stepped up its efforts to help ease the financial burden of many families by implementing its extension payment program and suspending account disconnections during the enhanced community quarantine period. PLDT Home postpaid customers will automatically be enrolled to a 6-month installment payment scheme for all their bill balances as of April 30, 2020. This will allow them to conveniently settle their bills for six (6) months from May to October 2020. 

    Starting May 1, PLDT Home subscribers will receive an updated statement of account which will reflect the installment amount and the monthly service due for the corresponding billing month. PLDT Home subscribers can also enjoy 20% or up to Php100 cashback if they settle their March to May bills in full and on time using the PayMaya app.

    To conveniently track their bills and payments, PLDT Home subscribers can check their accounts through the MyPLDT-Smart App.

    “We may be socially distant, but we are united and strongly connected as one nation and community.

    PLDT Home will steadfastly work hard to keep families safe and connected as they stay at home,” said Panlilio.

    For more information about PLDT Home’s COVID-19 response, please visit http://www.pldthome.com

    REFERENCE:

    JEAN RICELLE A. AQUINO

    Sr. Media Relations Officer

    StratWorks, Inc.

    0927 027 8975

  • NASA, partners launch virtual hackathon to develop COVID-19 solutions

    NASA, partners launch virtual hackathon to develop COVID-19 solutions

    The U.S. space agency National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA), and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are inviting coders, entrepreneurs, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, artists, and technologists to participate in a virtual hackathon May 30-31 dedicated to putting open data to work in developing solutions to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    During the global Space Apps COVID-19 Challenge, participants from around the world will create virtual teams that – during a 48-hour period – will use Earth observation data to propose solutions to COVID-19-related challenges ranging from studying the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and its spread to the impact the disease is having on the Earth system. Registration for this challenge opens in mid-May.

    “There’s a tremendous need for our collective ingenuity right now,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “I can’t imagine a more worthy focus than COVID-19 on which to direct the energy and enthusiasm from around the world with the Space Apps Challenge that always generates such amazing solutions.”

    The unique capabilities of NASA and its partner space agencies in the areas of science and technology enable them to lend a hand during this global crisis. Since the start of the global outbreak, Earth science specialists from each agency have been exploring ways to use unique Earth observation data to aid understanding of the interplay of the Earth system – on global to local scales – with aspects of the COVID-19 outbreak, including, potentially, our ability to combat it. The hackathon will also examine the human and economic response to the virus.

    ESA will contribute data from the Sentinel missions (Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-5P) in the context of the European Copernicus program, led by the European Commission, along with data from Third Party contributing Missions, with a focus on assessing the impact on climate change and greenhouse gases, as well as impacts on the economic sector. ESA also is contributing Earth observation experts for the selection of the competition winners and the artificial-intelligence-powered EuroDataCube.

    “EuroDatacube will enable the best ideas to be scaled up to a global level,” said Josef Aschbacher, director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA. “The pandemic crisis has a worldwide impact, therefore international cooperation and sharing of data and expertise with partners like NASA and JAXA seems the most suitable approach.”

    JAXA is making Earth observing data available from its satellite missions, including ALOS-2, GOSAT, GOSAT-2, GCOM-C, GCOM-W, and GPM/DPR.

    “JAXA welcomes the opportunity to be part of the hackathon,” said JAXA Vice President Terada Koji. “I believe the trilateral cooperation among ESA, NASA and JAXA is important to demonstrate how Earth observation can support global efforts in combating this unprecedented challenge.”

    Space Apps is an international hackathon that takes place in cities around the world. Since 2012, teams have engaged with NASA’s free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space. The COVID-19 Challenge will be the program’s first global virtual hackathon. Space Apps 2019 included more than 29,000 participants at 225 events in 71 countries, developing more than 2,000 hackathon solutions over the course of one weekend.

    Many Filipinos participated in this annual hackathon since 2016. Recently, a dengue mapping forecasting system was developed by data scientists from CirroLytix using satellite and climate data with the goal of addressing the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. This web application, called Project AEDES won globally for the best use of data. “Earth observation data has the potential to be used in fighting epidemics and outbreaks threatening humanity nowadays, as well as to analyze its socio-economic impact,” according to software developer Michael Lance M. Domagas, who led the Philippine hackathon in collaboration with De La Salle University, PLDT, Department of Science and Technology, United Nations Development Programme, and the U.S. embassy. The very first Philippine winner used citizen science and environmental data to develop a smartphone application informing fishermen the right time to catch fish. ISDApp is currently being incubated at Animo Labs.

    Space Apps is a NASA-led initiative organized globally in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub and SecondMuse. The next annual Space Apps Challenge is scheduled for October 2-4.

    Registration opens May 12. https://covid19.spaceappschallenge.org/
    #SpaceApps #SpaceAppsPH

    REFERENCE:

    Michael Lance M. Domagas

    Software Developer

  • RCBC, Multisys to bring an all-in-one virtual banking app

    RCBC, Multisys to bring an all-in-one virtual banking app

    Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has partnered with software and IT solutions provider, Multisys Technologies Corporation, to power the country’s first financial inclusion accelerator virtual bank, DiskarTech. PLDT invested P2.15 billion in Multisys for a 45.73% interest last year.

    Through DiskarTech: Kasosyo sa Asenso, RCBC will soon bring banking services and products closer to unbanked Filipinos and grassroots communities. This is in line with the commercial bank’s efforts to further promote financial inclusion in the country.

    With Multisys, DiskarTech will become an all-in-one app where users can easily make payments to more than 20 government services and over 2,000 billers, transfer funds via InstaPay, and avail of social services. It will also enable banking consumers to take out loans, buy airtime load and gaming ePINS, as well as apply for insurance and cash in and cash out via respective agent partners.

    “We are confident that with our collaboration with Multisys, we would be able to bring inclusive digital banking services to more Filipinos and uplift their lives,” said Lito Villanueva, RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer.

    RCBC EVP and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva (right) and Multisys President and CEO David Almirol, Jr., seal a partnership that will make the DiskarTech: Kasosyo sa Asenso into an all-in-one app to bring banking products and services closer to unbanked Filipinos. Looking on are PLDT Chairman and CEO Manny Pangilinan, RCBC Chairperson Helen Yuchengco-Dee and RCBC President and CEO Eugene Acevedo.

    “This is a strategic engagement as it covers the most extensive features and services that RCBC developed and championed, truly the first and the best in the industry,” said David Almirol, Jr. Multisys President and CEO.

    RCBC has been building a robust digital ecosystem with over 30 partnerships and collaboration across government agencies and private organizations to push DiskarTech in local communities.

    Reference:

    Abbey Malvar

    Public Relations Department

    Strategic works, Inc.

    +639. 17.708.8346

    abbey.malvar@stratworks.ph

    2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH