Founded on November 28, 1928, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) is the country’s principal supplier of domestic and international telecommunications services. The Company’s charter, which extends until 2028, authorizes it to provide virtually every type of telecommunications service.

PLDT has a network of 174 central office exchanges serving the Metro Manila area and 188 other cities and municipalities throughout the country. As of December 31, 1997, the number of access lines in service throughout the PLDT system was 1,662,631, representing approximately 80% of all access lines in the country.

International long distance services are provided by PLDT using two international gateway switching exchanges, submarine cables and satellite systems that connect PLDT’s network worldwide. PLDT also operates the Philippines' only nationwide digital microwave backbone, which connects its own exchanges with 466 other local exchanges and 3 exchanges operated by the Philippine government. PLDT's national long distance network links 1,106 calling points in 806 municipalities throughout the country.

Other services that PLDT provides include digital leased lines for domestic and international communication, high-speed data transmission, high performance packet switching service, and private networking.

To meet the challenges of increasing competition, cope with the growing demand for technologically advanced telecommunications services, and increase the country's telephone density, PLDT continues to expand and modernize its network. Under its ongoing major expansion and modernization program, PLDT aims to install about 2.1 million additional lines by the year 2002. By then, PLDT will have approximately 3.7 million lines and a fully digitalized network with the capacity to provide not only enhanced and value-added services but also multi-media and broadband services.