Synergy of 5G and AI will define the future of telco

Shanghai, China – PLDT Inc. is putting its focus on the combined power of 5G and artificial intelligence as the next step for the telecom industry.

During the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Shanghai, PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer Butch Jimenez Jr. shared how the two technologies will help transform industries and the way telcos operate.

Jimenez spoke to a global audience and explained how the company is shifting from just being a connectivity provider to becoming a technology partner for businesses and industries.

“It is the power of both 5G and AI that will deliver the magic,” Jimenez said. “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 also pointed back to the vision of PLDT Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, who described a “mega utility” that supports Filipinos in many areas like electricity, water, highways, farming, media, and telecom. That vision is starting to happen, with PLDT supporting all of these sectors as the digital backbone of the group.

From Connectivity to Intelligence
Jimenez said PLDT has gone beyond just offering basic network services. The company is now focused on enabling digital services through its data centers, 5G networks, and computing platforms.

“If we stopped at just providing connectivity, our revenues and relevance would eventually plateau,” he said. “We had to invest forward, and we did.”

PLDT now runs the country’s largest network of data centers and is the only provider offering GPU services for high-performance computing needs. These are key for businesses looking to adopt new digital tools at scale.

A Three-Pronged Strategy for 5G-AI Leadership
Jimenez laid out PLDT’s strategy to lead in the next phase of telco. It focuses on building smarter networks, forming more partnerships, and training people inside the company.

“The solo mindset is outdated,” Jimenez said.
Internally, PLDT is also training its teams through bootcamps and other programs to make sure employees are ready to work with these tools.

“If our people don’t embrace AI, there’s no way we can lead with it,” he added. “We must believe in it ourselves before we can deliver it to our customers.”

A Telco Transformed
Jimenez ended with a message that telcos should aim to build full digital ecosystems, not just faster networks. He said PLDT is ready to take that lead in the Philippines and even beyond.

“This is our dream, our vision, and our hope – that 5G and AI together will drive the next generation of growth for telco.”