PLDT, Cisco team up for 5G-ready IP transport network

Philippines’ leading digital services provider PLDT has partnered with global technology leader Cisco to help transform its IP transport infrastructure into a fully automated software defined 5G-ready IP transport network.

Under this partnership, PLDT and Cisco will deploy cutting-edge technology to design and build automated, highly reliable, highly scalable, software-defined next generation infrastructure utilising PLDT’s existing fiber network to seamlessly deliver customized digital experiences to customers.

This large-scale investment with Cisco is part of PLDT’s broader transport network transformation project, which will be implemented over the next three years.

“This investment will raise PLDT’s fiber network to the next level. Today we mark another major milestone in PLDT’s efforts to help the country gear up for the Industrial Revolution 4.0, enabling us to move up to the next generation of digital technologies, such as 5G, software-defined networking (SDN), artificial intelligence and Internet of Things,” said PLDT Chairman Manuel V Pangilinan.

“At Cisco, we are committed to working with our customers to transform their infrastructure, so they can unlock growth opportunities as everything becomes connected. PLDT is at the forefront of this transformation and we are proud to partner together to deliver best in class services across the Philippines,” said Chuck Robbins, Chairman and CEO, Cisco.

Most modern in Asia 

PLDT’s fiber network footprint of over 244,000 kilometres is the country’s most extensive fiber infrastructure. With four cable landing stations linking the country to major international gateways worldwide, PLDT’s fiber network also supports the company’s array of digital services for both its fixed and wireless customers.

Under this project, PLDT and Cisco will deploy technologies across PLDT’s network to make it more efficient, more resilient, more scalable, and easier to maintain and repair. The software defined architecture will also enable PLDT to fortify customer services with highly dynamic and agile networking capabilities, as well as cybersecurity to safeguard customer data.

“We are building with Cisco one of the most modern transport networks in Asia by maximizing the capabilities of the fiber infrastructure that we have already put in place,” said Joachim Horn, PLDT chief technology and information advisor.

The automated architecture of the network will also enable PLDT to manage traffic congestion, minimize network outages, and launch new digital services faster.

“With this network transformation program, we can empower enterprises and businesses and address their needs for speed, bandwidth and digital services quickly and seamlessly,” Horn added.

Cisco’s Customer Experience team will play a leading role in the end-to-end design, build and deployment of the new infrastructure to extend the network’s reach, reliability and scalability. It will also greatly enhance experiences for PLDT’s customers and lay a solid foundation for 5G rollout.

“Cisco and PLDT share a vision for building a modern infrastructure that redefines everyday experiences for businesses and consumers. Our Customer Experience team understands that technology is just one part of the solution and that it is equally important to have the right design, architecture, deployment strategy and support systems in place to ensure the long-term success of a project of this scale. Our partnership with PLDT shows the breadth of Cisco’s capabilities in implementing a fully automated, software-driven network that can serve millions of subscribers, scale rapidly and be ready for 5G,” said Miyuki Suzuki, President Asia Pacific, Japan and China at Cisco.

Future-proofed network 

The network transformation project is also part of PLDT’s 5G efforts, as it is also seen to support the Internet of Things (IoT), as well as Smart City initiatives.

“This transformation program will not only increase the network’s capacity in anticipation for the upcoming mobile data traffic explosion, it will also make it more intelligent and ready for the deployment of real, standalone 5G,” Horn said.

“Through partnerships with global technology leaders like Cisco, we are continuously improving our network to ensure that PLDT remains to be the country’s technology enabler of choice,” said Ernesto R. Alberto, PLDT chief revenue officer.

“With a fully automated network, our enterprise customers can expect more tailor-fit digital services that meet their businesses’ specific needs today and in the future,” said Juan Victor Hernandez, senior vice president and head of enterprise for PLDT.

Cisco is leading the disruption in the industry with its technology innovations in software-defined networking, 5G, subscriber experience (mobile, cable, fixed), automation, optical and optics. Together with its Customer Experience team of experts, Cisco enables service providers, media and web companies to reduce cost and complexity, helps scale and secure their networks, and grow their revenue.

About Cisco 

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that has been making the Internet work since 1984. Our people, products and partners help society securely connect and seize tomorrow's digital opportunity today.

Cisco Receives Top Rankings from China’s Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs

I am excited to announce on Cisco’s behalf that we recently jumped to number three in the IT industry on the influential Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE) Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) ranking.

We also maintained our position at number two in the IT industry on the IPE Supply Chain Climate Transparency Index (SCTI) ranking. The IPE is the most powerful and influential environmental NGO in China, and this recognition is an accolade to the amazing efforts Cisco is putting into environmental supply chain management and our corporate social responsibility.

Ranking up

China is an important market for us, as nearly 50% of our component supplier facilities and manufacturing sites are located in the region. Jointly developed by IPE and the Natural Resources Defense Council, the CITI index is the first quantitative evaluation system designed to assess brands’ environmental management of their supply chains.

The SCTI Index is a new ranking developed by IPE in 2018 that aims to promote brands’ action toward supply chain GHG reduction, as well as their in-depth participation in global climate change governance.

Cisco’s jump in the ranks reflects the work we’ve been doing with our suppliers in China, including wastewater surveys and pollution mitigation projects, tracking and addressing reports of illegal pollution, and requiring our tier 1 suppliers to assess and manage the environmental performance of their tier 2 suppliers.

Additionally, Cisco is taking steps to educate suppliers by incorporating training with stakeholders and environmental authorities to address possible solutions to the current challenges of environmental compliance. Through these roundtables and trainings, we’re identifying key actions we can take to increase efficacy within supply chain management.

For what it’s worth

Environmental protection is a responsibility we all share, individuals and corporations alike. As a supply chain social and environmental responsibility manger based in China, I am working closely with our suppliers to ensure their daily operations meet Cisco’s supplier code of conduct requirements and generate positive social and environmental impacts in the local community.

I am proud to work on a team where I can contribute my expertise on environmental management and make full use of Cisco’s buying power to drive key stakeholders within our supply chain to protect the living environment when producing Cisco products, which ultimately has a larger impact on our planet. Together we are making changes for a better future.

AI Could Improve Your Next Meeting in Cisco Webex

Bringing Context and Intelligence to Meetings

On the Webex design team we’re always thinking of how we can make meetings better. Sure, you need great sound and video and screen sharing. But technology can do so much more. It can be like that great assistant who not only takes care of the technical stuff but also slips you useful notes in the middle of the conversation. This context and intelligence helps you build stronger relationships, have better conversations with customers and make smarter, faster decisions.

For us, this isn’t about bolting on a few gimmicky AI-powered features. It’s a mindset.  We know Webex can remove tedious tasks, help you get and stay engaged and make life at work easier. Just imagine how these new features could improve your work day.

• People Insights gives you professional profiles about the people you’re meeting—in real time. Keep in mind we use context and intelligence to serve these up—so even if you’re meeting someone with a common name like John Smith we will give you the right John Smith. (Try looking him up with a simple web search and you’ll get lots of useless information on lots of wrong John Smiths! And if you happen to be meeting with a different John Smith later in the day, Webex will know that too.

And these aren’t static, one-dimensional profiles. We scour the Web for publicly available information to create a living, breathing profile of the people and companies you care about, and we keep these up to date with the latest news. (You also get to see your profile that is visible to others, and if something shows up that you don’t like, you can always edit it.) This is available as a trial now, with general availability slated for June.

• Webex Assistant is what is behind two of the new features in the example above. The assistant’s new Proactive Join lets you walk into the room and be asked if you want to join your meeting. To accomplish this, we first needed to know who you are (which we do thanks to an innovation called intelligent proximity). Then we needed to be able to peek into the calendar to see what’s next. And Webex Assistant’s new First Match let Webex know you probably were trying to call Susan Lee. It feels a lot like magic—it looks at the people in your own organization (via the company directory) and scans your Webex Teams spaces to see who you talk to most to make its best guess. In early field trials, Webex gave customers its top three guesses. But its top pick proved right so often that customers asked us to just serve up the first match. You can even use it to add someone to a call already underway.

Webex Assistant, along with First Match technology, is generally available now across the entire Webex Room Series. Proactive Join is available on a limited basis now and will be generally available in June.

• Facial recognition is what is attaches those name/title labels to the three people you never met before in our example. We’ve said before that video is “better than being there,” and that certainly holds true here.  Remote people need not guess who’s who in that big conference room filled with new faces. This will be available in June.

“Cognitive Collaboration is a game changer for Cisco customers across all industries,” said Amy Chang, SVP and GM, Collaboration Technology Group, Cisco. “When we enable people to collaborate from wherever they are in a way that’s intuitive, easy and smart, we make their work and life experiences better and more productive.”

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