‘Best emerging market carrier’
PLDT reaps honors in Telecom Asia Awards
MANILA, Philippines, MAY 4, 2006 — Telecom Asia, one of Asia’s largest regional telecommunications publishing groups, has conferred the Best Emerging Market Carrier Award to Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. for the third straight year.
In the recent 2006 Telecom Asia Awards in Phuket, Thailand, 10 carriers from around the region were presented with their trophies. PLDT won in the emerging market category based on its financial performance, market leadership, innovation and corporate governance.
“It is indeed a great honor for us to win this award for the third straight time, especially since we are competing with the biggest and most admired telcos in the region,” said PLDT President and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno.
“We are especially gratified that this distinction has been conferred on PLDT in a period during which the company has taken big strides in transforming itself into a next-generation carrier. Indeed this reflects the ability of Philippine companies to excel despite the challenges in the business environment,” he added.
The Company was credited for the dramatic turnaround of its business over the past 3 years and the significant growth in its profits and free cash flow. PLDT’s comprehensive financial disclosures and transparency also contributed to the company’s success in the Awards.
PLDT also received nominations in other categories. PLDT was nominated for best telecom carrier in Asia while subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. was nominated for best mobile carrier in the region.
Telecom Asia said in a statement that the Awards are the most prestigious honors program in Asian telecommunications and that the award winners are chosen on their combined financial, market and technology strengths based on financial analysis and assessments of an 18-member judging panel.
“These awards are intended to identify and reward outstanding performance in Asian telecommunications,” said Robert Ferguson, Managing Director of Questex Asia, publisher of Telecom Asia.
“The depth and diversity of the winners underlines the good health and innovation evident in the industry today. I congratulate all of this year’s winners and thank IDC and the judging panel for their contributions.”
The financial analysis of the carriers was conducted by a research team at IDC, a leading provider of global ICT research and advice, drawing on its extensive communications research expertise across Asia-Pacific.