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PLDT installs fiber optic loop in Baguio(Philippine Daily Inquirer Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) BAGUIO CITYTHE COUNTRYS SUMmer capital has been pushed into President Macapagal-Arroyos cyber corridor after a major telecommunications player launched the first digital fiber optic network (Dfon) here. Eric Alberto, PLDT vice president for corporate business group, said companies had signified their expansion plans while other IT-related firms were planning to locate here with the launching of the Baguio loop of the Dfon. He said the P35-million project was a big gamble on PLDTs part due to Baguios topographic problems. After continuous rains, the network in Baguio falters because of landslides and other problems, Alberto explained. This, he added, meant higher maintenance costs. Before the Dfon, Baguio was relying on microwave facilities. George Lim, head of PLDT network service group, said the Baguio loop was a dedicated Dfon because there was no other area from San Fernando City in La Union to Baguio that was connected to the circuit, unlike in other PLDT stations in the lowlands. But he said PLDT believed that the Baguio network was worth the investment it made because of the prospective infusion of additional capital in information technology-based businesses in the area. Alberto said Clientlogic, one of the biggest call centers here, was planning to double capacity with the Dfon. PLDTs call center group, ePLDT Ventus Inc., is also planning to build a center here. Texas Instruments Philippines started its expansion last year, in anticipation of the improvement of the telecommunication system here, he said. The fiber optic link for Baguio has a 10-gigabit-per-second transmission bandwidth, which is equivalent to more than 120,000 simultaneous voice calls. Lim said PLDT made it a point to have two separate fiber optic cables (one passing through Naguilian Road and the other through Marcos Highway) to avoid service disruption even during the rainy season. Frank Cimatu, PDI Northern Luzon Bureau |