PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE Co. will soon roll out a P4.4-billion next-generation network nationwide.

PLDT has received the required regulatory approval to install and operate next generation networks (NGN) in 195 municipalities and cities covering regions 4 to 12, CAR, Caraga and ARMM.

The NGN networks will be linked through PLDT’s IP (Internet protocol) backbone.

The entire project was estimated to cost P4.37 billion in the next five years.

The National Telecommunications Commission has given PLDT 15 days from receipt of order to file its acceptance, after which the telco has 12 days to provide LEC service within the areas authorized. The commission also required PLDT to negotiate with small local exchange carriers in the new areas it intends to serve.

NGN rollouts are not new to PLDT. In April 2007, PLDT was granted authority to establish NGN networks in 13 regions in addition to its existing service areas then.

NGN is the latest technology for voice and multi-media communications based on open architecture design using IP technology. It is seen to revitalize PLDT’s fixed line business, where revenue has softened significantly compared with the cellular wireless business.

PLDT president and CEO Napoleon Nazareno earlier said the company’s NGN rollout was a key component of revitalization efforts for the fixed line business.

Company chair Manuel V. Pangilinan said the “reinvention of the PLDT group, particularly of its fixed line business, is fundamental to the efforts to transform the company into a new generation communications group.”

Its unaudited financial results for the first half showed that its consolidated service revenue increased by 5 percent to P70.3 billion.

Core net income, which excludes exceptional items, rose 9 percent to P18.7 billion from P17.2 billion.