<article><a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=pldt">PLDT </a>Inc, one of only two wireless carriers in the Philippines, said on Monday its digital applications unit could bring in a Chinese partner and even PLDT itself is open to tying up with a mainland firm.</article>

<a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=pldt">PLDT </a>Inc, one of only two wireless carriers in the Philippines, said on Monday its digital applications unit could bring in a Chinese partner and even PLDT itself is open to tying up with a mainland firm.
The comments by PLDT Chairman Manuel Pangilinan come as a shakeup looms for the Philippine telecoms industry amid a rising Chinese presence.
Pangilinan said a Chinese company was likely to come in as a strategic partner for PLDT unit Voyager Innovations, which builds technology platforms and products for financial services anddigital commerce.
&#8220;Voyager is in the process of looking for strategic partners and it&#8217;s possible that we may have a Chinese partner,&#8221; Pangilinan told reporters, declining to specify the nature of the plannedpartnership or a timeframe.
President Rodrigo Duterte has welcomed Chinese entities to be the Philippines&#8217; third telecoms operator, following through on a threat he made last year to PLDT and Globe Telecom Inc , the nation&#8217;s two dominant telecoms groups, to shape up or face competition, amid complaints about their services.
The Chinese are slowly elbowing their way into Philippines&#8217; telecoms and communications industry. <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=ant+financial">Ant Financial Services Group</a>, an affiliate of Chinese billionaire Jack Ma&#8217;s Alibaba Group, has recently invested in Globe&#8217;s Mynt, a rival of PLDT&#8216;s Voyager.
And broadband services provider Philippine Telegraph &amp; Telephone Corp is in talks to partner withChinese companies to challenge PLDT and Globe, a move which could be a game changer in the local market.
Asked to comment on a new competitor backed up by Chinese investors possibly emerging soon in the local telecoms industry, Pangilinan said he was also open to getting a Chinese partner for the entire PLDT group.
&#8220;We welcome any third, fourth, fifth player,&#8221; Pangilinan said, speaking on the sidelines of a gathering of business executives.
&#8220;I think (partnering with Chinese companies) is a rather novel idea. I think it&#8217;s something we should consider at the PLDT level,&#8221; he said.
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Reuters

Duterte has welcomed the Chinese to be the Philippines' third telecoms operator, following through on a threat he made last year to PLDT, Globe Telecom.

Philippines: PLDT digital unit may bring in Chinese partner

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