Integrated telco PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) are backing the Underground Cabling Project of Davao City, which aims to improve its urban design and attract more investors and tourists to the city.

PLDT and Smart representatives joined city government officials and representatives from Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) and other telcos in the recent Ceremonial Switch-On at San Pedro St. The project began its implementation in 2018 at C.M. Recto St., City Hall and Sangguniang Panlungsod.

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“In addition to boosting the city government’s efforts of attracting tourists and investors by eliminating unsightly wires, putting cables underground is also aligned with PLDT and Smart’s initiatives to improve and maintain our network across the country,” said Melvin Lacuna, head of Davao Zone at PLDT. “This also helps make our network safer and more secure.”

Wire-free city

Other streets that would soon become visibly wire-free will be Ponciano, Bonifacio, Pelayo Street, and Quirino Avenue. PLDT is also supporting similar initiatives in other cities, such as Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, and Cebu.

PLDT operates the country’s most extensive fiber infrastructure, which was 1.09 million kilometers as of end-September 2022, including domestic and international fiber. This fiber infrastructure also supports Smart’s mobile network, which covers about 97% of the population with 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G. 

Davao City’s’ underground cabling project is under the city’s ordinance issued in 2017, which mandates all telecommunication companies and DLPC to convert overhead lines to an underground system.