Smart secures P2B green loan to boost energy-efficient 5G rollout

• Photo from PLDT

By TechWatch PH

Smart Communications, Inc., the wireless arm of PLDT Inc., has obtained its first-ever green loan facility worth two billion from Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank) to accelerate the expansion of its 5G network nationwide.

The landmark financing marks Smart’s entry into green lending and supports its goal of building a future-ready and environmentally responsible digital infrastructure. The loan will fund network upgrades aimed at improving energy efficiency and enhancing customer experience.

Compared with 4G/LTE, Smart said 5G technology can transmit larger volumes of data at higher speeds while consuming less energy per gigabyte. Its adaptive low-energy mode and AI-driven optimization features also enable lower greenhouse gas emissions.

“This green loan is more than a financial milestone—it demonstrates Smart’s participation in shaping a low-carbon digital future,” said PLDT and Smart Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Management Officer Danny Yu. “By investing in energy-efficient technologies, we are pursuing growth while being mindful of our environmental impact.”

Anchored on international Green Loan Principles, the facility supports the PLDT Group’s decarbonization roadmap, which targets a 40 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

PLDT and Smart Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios noted that sustainability financing plays a vital role in achieving long-term business and environmental goals.

“Financing plays a key role in enabling the achievement of our business and sustainability goals and in our pursuit of initiatives that create value for the planet and future generations,” she said.

Metrobank Corporate Banking Group Head Rommel Dionisio said the partnership reflects the bank’s commitment to embed sustainability in its lending practices.

“By supporting energy-efficient 5G upgrades, we are not just funding growth—we are investing in a smarter, greener digital future together,” Dionisio said.

In 2024, PLDT also secured a four billion green loan from Metrobank to expand its fiber network and energy-efficient systems. Both PLDT and Smart continue to invest in renewable energy and AI-enabled green radio technologies to improve energy performance and reduce emissions.

These initiatives are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and Goal 13 (Climate Action).