PLDT boosts domestic network with Ciena optical tech

The Philippines’ largest fully integrated telco company, PLDT Inc. (PLDT), is leveraging Ciena’s (NYSE: CIEN) optical technology to bolster the country’s digital infrastructure by improving data transmission from the Asia Direct Cable (ADC) system to local end users. PLDT is using Ciena’s 6500, powered by WaveLogic 5 Extreme (WL5e) coherent optical technology, to efficiently and reliably backhaul local traffic from global cloud providers.

“PLDT is committed to strengthening the country’s digital backbone by ensuring that the international capacity carried by the ADC system translates into world-class connectivity for users nationwide. With the support of Ciena’s optical technology, we can provide faster, more resilient, and more secure services, powering the Philippines’ digital economy from individual users to enterprises and hyperscalers,” said Blums Pineda, Senior Vice President and Head of Enterprise Business Group, PLDT and Smart.

“The Philippines is a key destination for many global cloud providers and enterprises seeking to expand their presence in Asia,” said Matt Vesperman, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Ciena. “Ciena’s market-leading optical technology provides a seamless connectivity link to advance international trade and digital transformation within the Philippines.”

Ciena’s WL5e coherent optical technology enables PLDT to carry multi-terabit traffic, delivering low-latency, high-capacity connectivity from the ADC landing station to PLDT’s national backbone. Additionally, Ciena’s Navigator Network Control Suite (Navigator NCS) enhances operational efficiencies for PLDT’s network by simplifying and accelerating network planning, provisioning, and assurance workflows.

Through its corporate arm, PLDT Enterprise, PLDT continues to accelerate its digital investments to optimize enterprise operations and drive innovation. True to this commitment, the ADC system is connected to the recently inaugurated VITRO Santa Rosa (VSR), the Philippines’ first AI-ready data center, built and operated by VITRO Inc. In 2024, Ciena’s coherent optical technology enabled VITRO’s Data Center Interconnect (DCI) solution, linking VSR to the rest of VITRO’s flagship data centers. VITRO’s DCI provides enterprises with the ability to securely connect their racks across different VITRO sites, optimizing disaster recovery strategies and operational efficiency.