PLDT Global wins big at Pacific Telecommunications Council Awards

PLDT Global Corporation (PGC), the international arm of leading telco and digital services provider PLDT, bagged two major awards for innovations that assist overseas Filipinos and their families at the prestigious Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) Awards 2020 held in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Among dozens of international carriers and technology companies shortlisted across different categories, PGC won the awards for “Outstanding Applications Company” and “Outstanding Customer-Facing Innovation” for Free Bee. PGC was the only company that won two awards for the Network-Centric Products, Services, and Innovation category.

Free Bee has become the go-to calling app for Filipinos living and working abroad. This ad-based solution delivers free international call to the Philippines, even if the recipient is not connected to the internet or does not own a smartphone.

Free Bee also enables longer, ad-free calls to key migrant destinations such as the United States of America, Canada, India, and South Korea, at affordable rates. These premium, reliable, and affordable call plans are tailored to suit the needs of Filipinos with families living or working abroad and help them maintain strong family ties. In 2019, Free Bee was recognized as Telecom Asia’s Most Innovative Voice Solution.

Launched in 2017, Free Bee has also partnered with other companies and organizations all over the world to provide services such as Smart, TNT, and Sun load top ups, online bills payment, application for insurance and loan products, and lifestyle guides for Filipinos overseas.

“These awards are a testament to our unwavering commitment to deliver digital solutions that empower and uplift the lives of global Filipinos. We are honored that our peers in the industry recognize our initiatives, and we are inspired to work even harder to deliver only relevant and meaningful services to our customers,” said Katrina Luna-Abelarde, President & CEO at PGC.

PTC is the leading global non-profit membership organization promoting the advancement of information and communication technologies in the Pacific Rim, the most dynamic geography of the world.

Held during its annual conference, the PTC Awards aims to celebrate achievements in the ICT industry, and acknowledge impactful contributions that improve the lives of people and firms in the region.

In a statement, Joe Weinman, Chair of the PTC Awards 2020 Committee said, “The PTC awards are exploding in terms of industry participation and it’s a pleasure to be able to recognize the brilliant work going on in the ICT industry, and particularly that which supports the non-profit mission of PTC, to advance the ethical development and use of ICT for collaboration, knowledge, and outreach.”