01-07-2025
Telco industry's future hinges on harnessing AI, 5G - PLDT's Jimenez
PLDT Inc. is banking on the convergence of the latest digital and connectivity innovations—5G and artificial intelligence (AI)—to set the pace for the future of the telecommunications industry.
In his keynote speech at the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Shanghai, China, last month, PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer Menardo 'Butch' Jimenez Jr. said, 'It is the power of both 5G and AI that will deliver the magic.'
'Not just one or the other. Telcos have the unique DNA to deliver both, and that's why we believe the future of the industry depends on how we harness these two forces together,' Jimenez said.
The PLDT official laid out the telco's game plan for leading the 5G-AI revolution: build smarter infrastructure, collaborate boldly, and train relentlessly.
With 5G standalone architecture as its backbone, PLDT is setting the stage for AI-powered innovation, he said.
'The solo mindset is outdated,' Jimenez said, as he underscored the importance of strategic partnerships.
He said PLDT is investing in AI bootcamps and upskilling programs to ensure its workforce is ready to lead in the age of intelligent connectivity.
'If our people don't embrace AI, there's no way we can lead with it,' he emphasized. 'We must believe in it ourselves before we can deliver it to our customers,' Jimenez said.
'This is our dream, our vision, and our hope—that 5G and AI together will drive the next generation of growth for telco,' he said. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
