PLDT is looking to secure other areas of collaboration with social media giant Facebook. In an attempt to increase internet adoption among Filipinos, PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan met with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the Facebook HQ on March 28.
Through the strategic partnership, PLDT’s mobile arm Smart Communications, Inc. became the first telco in Southeast Asia to roll out Free Basics. Both parties have also introduced Free Instagram and Free Facebook Toggle, which led to a surge in Filipino internet users. Smart offered free Facebook access starting June 8, 2012. The service is now available in more than 30 countries.