PLDT Inc., through its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc., has successfully tested the country's first optical transport network disaggregation technology.

The Pangilinan-led firm said Tuesday that the test was conducted at the PLDT-Smart Technolab in Makati, bringing Smart closer to building a fully disaggregated transport network to further improve customer experience.

Network disaggregation allows telcos to independently choose hardware and software vendors, enabling a mix of best-in-class solutions that can enhance performance, reduce costs, and speed up service delivery.

"This milestone builds on the momentum of the previous IP transport disaggregation Proof of Concept conducted in 2023 by validating Optical Transport Disaggregation technologies," said Debbie Hu, FVP and Head of Wireless Network at Smart.

“It supports our goal of a fully disaggregated, cost-efficient network architecture and paves the way for an open, end-to-end transport infrastructure that’s future-ready, scalable, and vendor-neutral.”

Smart and PLDT have long been pursuing open and disaggregated network designs through initiatives like Open RAN and Cloud-Native Core technologies.

Unlike traditional networks that depend on a single vendor, disaggregated systems use interoperable components from multiple suppliers, allowing faster upgrades and improved flexibility.

The technology is expected to simplify deployment, speed up network upgrades, and eliminate vendor lock-in, enabling greater operational agility and resilience.

“The approach not only improves service delivery and cost efficiency, but also sets the foundation for long-term transformation,” said Radames Zalameda, VP and Head of Wireless Network Strategy and Architecture.