Synergy of 5G and AI will Define the Future of Telco – PLDT

PLDT Inc. (PLDT) is betting big on the convergence of 5G and AI—not just as a tech upgrade, but as the engine of the telecom industry’s future. At the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Shanghai, PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer Menardo “Butch” G. Jimenez, Jr. delivered a keynote that positioned this powerful pairing as the key to unlocking smarter, faster, and more transformative digital experiences across industries.

​Addressing a global audience of tech trailblazers, Jimenez emphasized that the convergence of 5G and AI as the spark transforming PLDT from a traditional connectivity provider into a catalyst for next-generation, cross-industry solutions.
 
“It is the power of both 5G and AI that will deliver the magic,” Jimenez declared. “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 began by revisiting the bold vision of PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan: a “mega utility” serving Filipinos across power, water, highways, agriculture, media, and telco. That vision, he said, is now taking shape—with PLDT at the center as the digital backbone of the Pangilinan-led companies and the country’s leading force in telco convergence. More than just a national player, PLDT is now positioning itself as a regional innovator, ready to bring Philippine-grown solutions to the global stage.
 
From connectivity to intelligence
 
Jimenez described how PLDT’s role within the conglomerate has rapidly evolved from delivering connectivity to enabling digital transformation through data centers, AI platforms, and 5G-powered infrastructure.
 
“If we stopped at just providing connectivity, our revenues and relevance would eventually plateau,” he said. “We had to invest forward, and we did.”

Today, PLDT operates the Philippines’ largest data center network and is the only provider currently capable of offering GPU services essential for AI processing. These assets position PLDT to meet the increasing demand from enterprises and conglomerates for scalable, high-performance AI solutions.
 
A three-pronged strategy for 5G-AI leadership
 
Jimenez laid out PLDT’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. “The solo mindset is outdated,” Jimenez said, stressing the importance of strategic partnerships. Internally, 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.”
 
A telco transformed
 
Jimenez closed with a clear and bold message: the next frontier for telcos is not merely faster networks but intelligent, integrated ecosystems powered by 5G and AI. PLDT, he affirmed, is ready to lead that transformation for the Philippines and beyond.
 
“This is our dream, our vision, and our hope—that 5G and AI together will drive the next generation of growth for telco.”
PLDT Inc. is the Philippines’ largest fully integrated telecommunications company. Through its principal business groups—fixed line, wireless, and enterprise—PLDT delivers a full suite of digital and telecommunications services over the country’s most extensive fiber infrastructure and wireless network.