Smart Communications Inc., the wireless subsidiary of PLDT Inc., secured a ₱2 billion green loan from Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (Metrobank) to support the ongoing expansion and upgrade of its 5G network across the country.
The loan will fund improvements to Smart’s network infrastructure, focusing on equipment and systems designed to use less energy and improve customer experience.
“This green loan is more than a financial milestone,” said Danny Yu, chief financial officer and chief risk management officer of PLDT and Smart. “It demonstrates Smart’s participation in shaping a low-carbon digital future. By investing in energy-efficient technologies, we are pursuing business growth and efficiency, while being mindful of our impact on the environment.”
Smart said 5G technology can carry more data at faster speeds compared with 4G or LTE. It also allows network equipment to shift to lower energy consumption based on actual traffic, which can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The terms of the loan follow internationally recognized Green Loan Principles developed by global financial institutions. The initiative supports the PLDT Group’s decarbonization roadmap, which targets a 40% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030, using 2019 as the baseline year.
“Financing plays a key role in enabling the achievement of our business and sustainability goals and in our pursuit of initiatives that contribute to our long-term growth and create value for the planet and the future generations,” said Melissa Vergel de Dios, chief sustainability officer of PLDT and Smart.
She said the green loan supports the company’s focus on investments in innovation and infrastructure, customer experience, and operational resource efficiency.
“By supporting energy-efficient 5G upgrades, we are not just funding growth, we are investing in a smarter, greener digital future together,” said Rommel Dionisio, head of Corporate Banking Group of Metrobank.
In 2024, PLDT obtained a ₱4 billion green loan facility also from Metrobank for the expansion of its fiber infrastructure and energy-efficient systems.