MANILA, Philippines, October 22, 2010 – PLDT, the leading Philippine telecommunications provider, is now the first local telco to have been awarded both MEF (Metro Ethernet Forum) 9 and 14 certifications for its Carrier Ethernet service offerings.

“This has brought PLDT into a select club of global service providers given the same prestigious rating,” said PLDT SVP and Head of Customer Sales and Marketing Group Ernesto R. Alberto. “Currently MEF counts only 36 carriers worldwide who have been certified, and PLDT is part of the distinguished 30 who were able to comply with both MEF 9 and MEF 14.”

Rolando G. Peña, PLDT’s Customer Service Assurance Group Head said these certifications highlight PLDT’s continuous network innovation.

“PLDT’s MEF 9 Certification testifies to the compliance of PLDT’s Carrier Ethernet infrastructure in terms of delivering key features and functionalities, while matching the standards and reliability requirements set by the MEF,” he said.

MEF 14 upholds PLDT’s Carrier Ethernet Quality of Service, particularly in the area of traffic management performance.

Rodante T. Medina, PLDT’s Network Service Assurance Group Head, said: “This certification has very stringent requirements (in terms of frame delay, loss and variation), which is why this level of certification is difficult to attain,” he explained.

“PLDT’s MEF 14 clearly indicates quality and the robustness of PLDT’s Ethernet network as well as the technical capability of PLDT in implementing and operating world-class Carrier Ethernet services,” he added.

PLDT got both MEF 9 and 14 certifications for all solutions under its Metro Ethernet portfolio, including Metro e-Line (Ethernet Private Line), Metro e-WAN (Ethernet VPN) and Metro e-VPL (Ethernet Virtual Private Line).

Given its scale and history of innovation, PLDT, with its Metro Ethernet offerings, is ready to deliver even more high-capacity and diverse services to the enterprise sector.

“Each higher MEF rating implies a further enhancement of network capabilities, speed and range of services,” said PLDT FVP and Head of Corporate Business Group Nerissa S. Ramos.

“Philippine enterprise can now turn to PLDT for the highest MEF-rated Carrier Ethernet services in the country.”

“We are pleased to welcome PLDT as the latest carrier to be awarded MEF 9 and 14 certifications,” said Nan Chen, MEF President. “We are confident that their considerable nationwide reach, scale, and legacy of market leadership and innovation will be further enhanced with a Carrier Ethernet infrastructure that is now counted among the world’s best.”