Philippine telecommunications firm PLDT Inc. (PLDT) said it entered into an interconnection agreement with DITO Telecommunity (DTO), considered to be the third major telco in the country.

The interconnection deal consists of building a transmission facility — which is expected to be completed next month — that will serve as the point of interconnection for their subscribers with PLDT taking the reins of establishing and managing the facility, which will operate as the primary physical interface for both companies.

An interconnection agreement allows telcos to, basically, connect infrastructure or equipment to enable telecommunications subscribers from different providers to communicate with each other.

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“During this pandemic, technology has been a lifeline for our customers so we want to make sure that our connectivity is solid in helping our fellow Filipinos and the entire nation during these critical times,” said Al Panlilio, chief revenue officer of PLDT and president and CEO of Smart Communications Inc., PLDT’s wireless subsidiary. “It is important for us that we establish this interconnection capability between PLDT-Smart and the customers of DITO as mandated by the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission), and principally to make sure that our customers are able to communicate.”

The interconnection hub will deliver the intercarrier requirements of DITO for the use of all fixed and wireless subscribers of both telcos allowing them to communicate and connect to all the services the two offer.