In its push for finding new AI solutions for various industries, PLDT Enterprise collaborates with Ericsson through the former’s Innolab. The partnership will make use of Ericsson’s AI Exchange Platform—a hybrid cloud solution built on a distributed architecture—for exploring innovative solutions for different industries.

According to PLDT Enterprise Vice President and Head of Innovations, Business Development, Consulting, and Presales Melvin Jeffrey Chan, the partnership with Ericsson will explore the possibility of ideating and co-developing innovative solutions for different industries using Ericsson’s AI Exchange Platform.

Using Ericsson’s AI Exchange Platform, companies can maximize the adoption of AI and digital transformation, reducing the cost of transitioning to digital service delivery and reducing the time to market in many new areas, according to Ericsson Head of Cloud Software Services and ICT Innovation for Singapore, Brunei, & Philippines Andrew Thuan.

PLDT Innolab provides world-class facilities for research and co-development of new-generation products and innovations. PLDT Enterprise Head of Business and Innovations Strategy and Special Projects Niko Peralta is confident that the collaboration of Ericsson and PLDT Innolab will yield results similar to those achieved by the group’s partnerships with Packetworx and ThingsPH, which also dealt with artificial intelligence and Internet of Things.

“PLDT Enterprise is always on the lookout for innovative solutions that drive the digital transformation of our customers. We are fully committed to supporting local startups and other industries through the provision of cutting-edge solutions developed by our innovation units,” Peralta said. 

Prior to this partnership Ericsson’s AI Exchange has been used for a sustainability project in Sasmuan, Pampanga that involved the protection of mangrove forests and the detection and species classification of birds. For this project with DENR, Ericsson embedded AI models within camera systems so they could transmit images when they detect people in protected areas or birds in sanctuaries to avoid using expensive bandwidth. 

According to local government unit partners, this AI system and the support of Ericsson and PLDT’s wireless unit, Smart, helped grant the site’s status as the Philippines’ 8th Ramsar site, or a wetland of international importance.