PLDT Inc. said on Thursday it has successfully deployed the country’s first commercial Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) network.
SRv6 allows the telco to use advanced features like network slicing to make its network “more scalable, agile, and reliable.” It also enables the company to “efficiently” deliver 5G, home broadband, and enterprise services.
“The rollout of SRv6 is part of PLDT’s transformation journey to make our network future-ready. This initiative is crucial as we support the country’s digital pivot in the New Normal and elevate the internet experience of our fixed, wireless and enterprise customers nationwide,” said Mario G. Tamayo, Head of Technology at PLDT and Smart.
SRv6 is initially available in “selected portions” of Metro Manila.
Meinardo Opiana, Head of Transport Network Planning and Engineering at PLDT and Smart, said these improvements makes the telco’s network “better-positioned to enable future network capabilities.”
“Aside from delivering high-bandwidth and low latency services, these enhancements will further strengthen the automated operation of the existing SDN or Software Defined Network, and allow the network to support the efficiency and scalability needed by 5G, home broadband, cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT) for individual, home, and enterprise customers,” Opiana said.
The deployment of SRv6 is part of the telco’s 2021 network investments, which in total amounted to P89 billion. This year, PLDT is expected to spend between P76 billion to P80 billion in capital expenditures this year.