HONG KONG, 20th May 2011 -- PLDT Global Corporation (PGC), in cooperation with Docomo Pacific, is bringing its Mobile Virtual Network Operation (MVNO) business to Filipinos in Guam next month.

Through this partnership, Docomo Pacific, which operates a cellular service in Guam, will offer PGC’s Smart Pinoy services and lower rates for voice calls and text messages, to and from the Philippines.

These services include the Smart Pinoy Store which serves as a gateway for remittances and the payment of essential products and services such as utilities, tuition fees, insurance premiums, health check-ups, and medical procedures among others.

“Through our Smart Pinoy services, Filipinos in Hong Kong and Singapore have been actively participating in the lives of their loved ones back home, as if they never left the Philippines,” said PGC First Vice President for Carrier Business Alejandro Caeg.

Caeg added: “Now, Filipinos in Guam can experience the convenience of making direct payments for their own and their family’s needs. Apart from all these, they can also make investments or do negosyo on installment basis that’s easy on the pocket.”

Census reports indicate that Filipinos make up more than 25% of Guam’s total population of around 185,000. The island’s total population is also set to increase by 50 percent in the next four years as the US military plans to redeploy thousands of Marines and their families from Okinawa, Japan to Guam. As US and Japan already pledged US$10 billion for the island’s build up, economists are optimistic this redeployment move could trigger an economic boom for Guam. 

PGC launched "1528 Smart Pinoy" in partnership with Hong Kong CSL Limited in August 2004.

In April 2006, PGC launched an MVNO in Singapore in partnership with Mobile One called Smart Pinoy.

To help Filipinos abroad maintain strong ties with their families in the Philippines, PGC has expanded its reach through partnerships with foreign operators in other parts of Asia, Europe, the United States and Canada.

PLDT Global now operates in five major areas such as Hong Kong, Singapore, United States, United Kingdom and the Middle East.

PLDT is the leading telecommunications service provider in the country. Through its three principal business groups wireless, fixed line and information and communications technology, PLDT offers the largest and more diversified range of telecommunications services across the Philippines’ most extensive fiber optic backbone and wireless and fixed line networks.