Philippines Long-Distance Telephone Company (PLDT)

The Philippines, having been ravaged by a typhoon on the year 1928, realized the dire need for nationwide communication centralization due to the citizens inability to communicate amongst loved ones from several typhoon-damaged regions. The existing networks during the time were small intercom systems only linking people within small cities. A law was then passed giving birth to todays Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT). The new law aimed to interconnect these intercom systems into a single nationwide network; facilitating communication and delivery of services to the citizens as well as rapid economic growth in the under-developed regions. With the help of the American firm General Telephone and Electronics Corporation (GTE), acquisition of the small phone companies in the provinces and unifying them into a single, centralized network has been made a reality. From then on PLDT has been the countrys leading communications provider having the largest, most reliable network nationwide.

On the year 1968 came a new era of PLDT leadership. With the purchase of GTEs controlling stake over PLDT by a group of Filipino industrialists under the leadership of Ramon Cojuangco, PLDT finally became a Filipino-controlled corporation. PLDT being a Filipino company was now focused not only on personal company gain, but also on nation-building. Businesses and residents nationwide benefitted from the companys wide network, making topographical hindrances to communication a thing of the past. The companys acquisition and transformation was a symbol of national pride and a moment of triumph for Filipinos.

By 1982, subscribers could call long distance to nine major cities across the nation and 22 countries around the world and reach through direct dialing more than 400 million telephones overseas. This service eventually evolved into National Direct Dialing (NDD) and International Direct Dialing (IDD) by 1985. In the few decades that the company has been a

Filipino-run company, PLDT has ascended from a medium-sized firm into a multi-billion-peso giant, continuing expansion and robust business as we speak.

On the year 1997, upon the successful launching of communication satellite Agila II by PLDT subsidiary Mabuhay Philippines Satellite Corp., the countrys communication has reached a significant milestone. The satellite serves not only the Philippines but also other countries within the satellites footprint in the Asia Pacific Region.

The company has also made advances in the development of computing infrastructure with the help of US-based firm Oracle Corp. The company has then been known to provide not only voice subscriber lines, but also data lines, allowing access to the internet.

It's all part of PLDT's culture of innovation to bring its operations to world-class standards and become the best telecommunications company in the region. Today, PLDT leads the wireless race, dominates the landline domain, operates the premiere satellite company, and has raced to the #1 position in the Internet world, both broadband and narrow band. No doubt, PLDT is set to conquer whatever the future holds for the telecommunications industry.

Notwithstanding the many technological changes that PLDT will encounter in the future, one thing will remain steadfast - its commitment to serving the nation and providing communications solutions to Filipinos. (Source material retrieved from: www.pldt.com.ph).