PLDT launches first Internet backbone  
By Erik Dela Cruz, Malaya - 5 July 1997 

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. recently launched the country’s first internet exchange or access point which will improve current internet routing. 

At present internet users find it tedious to get into the internet specifically during heavy traffic hours the early evening. 

PLDT launched the Philippine Internet eXchange (PHIX), an interconnection or access point or the common backbone to connect all internet service providers in the country. 

PhIX started pilot operations last January. 

With its introduction, officials and ISPs believed that efficiency of internet routing will improve considerably. The location of internet traffic within the Philippines will maximize the existing and future bandwidth capacities of these ISPs resulting in higher reliability and isolation from individual gateway problems, the official said. 

They said local internet customers will benefit from faster access to content and exchange of information. A local e-mail message, for instance, goes straight to its local recipient faster and easier; thus, providing savings on access and usage time. 

Already five ISPs have signified their intention to join the PhIX project by signing a Multi-Lateral Peering Agreement with PLDT. These are Infocom, IPhil, Moscom, Virtualink, and WorldTel Phil. 

Officials said having an internet exchange would help reduce cost especially on the part of small ISPs which could not afford the expensive cost of international leased circuits. These small ISPs could settle only with relatively low bandwidth that cannot accommodate bigger volume of traffic. 

"The introduction of the PhIX as a local hub is a quantum leap towards putting the Philippines on the map of the Global Internet with its very own network access point just like the internet exchanges that were established in Hong Kong, Japan, United Kingdom, and the United States, " PLDT First Vice President Cesar G. Reyes said.