PLDT intensifies crackdown on illegal modem collection modus nationwide

The Philippines’ leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc. (PLDT) urges its customers and their communities to continue being vigilant against individuals falsely presenting themselves as PLDT personnel. This is in connection with rising incidents of unauthorized modem collection across more areas, including Pangasinan and other areas in Central Luzon.

“We strongly encourage our customers to transact only with authorized PLDT personnel, especially inside their homes, and to always check for proper identification in case of doubt,” said Cathy Yang, First Vice President and Group Head of PLDT and Smart, adding that PLDT personnel will never collect modems from customers without replacing them first. "PLDT Group’s initiatives to ramp-up asset protection efforts are part of a broader program to level-up our customers' experience on our network.”

PLDT earlier raised this warning for customers in Mindanao areas such as Davao City, General Santos, Cotabato and Zamboanga where subscribers have reported that unidentified persons claiming to be PLDT personnel entered their homes and collected their PLDT Fibr modems, disrupting repair and restoration services.

In line with the PLDT Group's continuous initiatives to improve customer service and protect its physical assets, PLDT activated Hotline 164, where citizens nationwide can report similar incidents that often lead to service disruption, including unauthorized modem retrieval, cable theft and cable breakage. Persons who would like to report such incidents can do so by calling "164" on their landline or mobile phone, regardless of network.

PLDT is also spearheading the National Telecommunications Security Council (NTSC), an industry-wide informal alliance for the mutual protection of telecommunications infrastructure nationwide. The NTSC is composed of corporate security professionals from the different telecommunications companies in the country.

PLDT operates the country's most extensive fiber infrastructure. As of end-2022, PLDT had expanded its total fiber footprint to approximately 1.1 million kilometers, consisting of over 231,000 kilometers of international fiber and around 866,000 kilometers of domestic fiber. PLDT's fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) services as of end-2022 had passed some 17.2 million homes and covered 68% of the country's cities and municipalities.

This fiber network also supports Smart's mobile network, covers about 97% of the population with 3G, LTE, and 5G.