MANILA, PHILIPPINES — PLDT and Smart continue to empower the country’s brightest minds as they open new doors for innovation and discovery at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU). Through visits to the PLDT-Smart Technolab, researchers from Ateneo’s Research on Optical Sciences, Engineering, and Systems (ROSES) under the Department of Physics, along with the Ateneo Innovation Center, were given a front-row seat to explore groundbreaking advancements in wireless technology.
“It is crucial for us to continue harnessing innovation and nurturing emerging technologies while identifying the next generation of solutions,” said Radames Vittorio Zalameda, Head of Wireless Network Strategy and Architecture at Smart. “We are collaborating on various proofs of concept to strengthen our infrastructure’s resilience and deliver a superior customer experience.”
The visit is part of the PLDT Group’s engagement with partner-schools under the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) where ADMU has been a member since 2003. SWEEP is the country’s first and longest-running Philippine industry-academe linkage program, run by PLDT and Smart.
2nd Row, Standing (5th from left) Dr. Benjamin Dingel, ROSES Research Head and Affiliate Professor, Department of Physics, ADMU; (6th from left) Clint Bennett, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, ADMU; (7th from left) Radames Vittorio Zalameda, Head of Wireless Network Strategy and Architecture at Smart; (8th from left) Nathaniel Joseph C Libatique, Associate Professor at the Department of Electronics, Computer and Communications Engineering, Director at Ateneo Innovation Center (AIC), Research Group Leader at Ateneo Sensors, Systems and Networks Research Lab
“PLDT and Smart believe in investing in the youth. That’s why for more than 20 years, we have been partnering with the colleges and universities to help produce industry-ready graduates and technopreneurs who can help shape the future through digital innovations,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, an Ateneo graduate herself and the AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart.
The PLDT-Smart Technolab serves as a testing ground for cutting-edge technologies, including Open Radio Access Network (ORAN), network disaggregation, extended reality, and innovations in cloud and home connectivity. It’s a space where researchers can explore solutions that promise to revolutionize customer experiences.
Middle Row (3rd from right) Radames Vittorio Zalameda, Head of Wireless Network Strategy and Architecture at Smart
“It’s interesting to witness how a device can be operated remotely through the use of communications technology. It is an innovation that we can look into to automate some of our tools in our laboratory,” said Dr. Benjamin Dingel, ROSES Research Head and Affiliate Professor at the Department of Physics.
“PLDT and Smart’s aspiration to connect people is also aligned with our research interests in developing technologies that will meet the market demand for connectivity, as well as look for ways to propel the internet into the future,” said Kent Gellada, a fifth-year student taking up Applied Physics with Material Science Engineering.
PLDT has the most extensive fiber optic infrastructure in the Philippines. As of 2024, its fiber network spans over 1.15 million cable kilometers, covering both domestic and international routes. The company has reached nearly 18 million homes across 70% of the country’s towns and 91% of provinces. This fiber infrastructure also supports the Smart mobile network, which covers 97% of the population nationwide.
Underscoring the value of promoting STEM education in the country, SWEEP and other initiatives to welcome students to the PLDT-Smart Technolab are aligned with the PLDT Group’s much broader program to promote meaningful innovation and inclusive, quality education. These are also aimed at helping country achieve UNSDG 4 on Quality Education and UNSDG 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
