MANILA, Philippines, February 20, 2011 – JAC Liner, one of the leading bus lines in the country, has become the first bus line to offer free Wi-Fi access in its buses with the help of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).

Through PLDT SME Nation, PLDT’s group that focuses on small and medium enterprises, 90 percent of JAC Liner’s buses that ply routes to Lucena and Mauban in Quezon, Biñan and Sta. Rosa in Laguna, and Marinduque, now have free Wi-Fi internet for passengers.

“Passengers can now be more productive and will be able to entertain themselves even during long bus trips,” said PLDT SME Nation Vice President and Head Kat Luna-Abelarde.

PLDT SME Nation has equipped the buses with PLDT WeRoam, a wireless internet solution. The service offers speeds of up to 3.6Mbps with unlimited nationwide wireless access coverage. JAC Liner targets to equip all their buses with the Wi-Fi service soon.

JAC Liner’s sister company Solid North Bus Express, with daily trips to San Carlos and Dagupan City in Pangasinan, has also availed of the same service recently. All of Solid North’s buses, both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned, are now Wi-Fi enabled.

Passengers with Wi-Fi capable gadgets such as laptops, mobile phones and other wireless devices can now log on to the internet during long bus rides. From Manila, bus rides going to Pangasinan take between four to five hours

“PLDT SME Nation has always partnered itself with entrepreneurs who know how to take full advantage of available technology to help further empower their businesses,” said Abelarde.

“It’s great to note how JAC Liner has initiated the move to integrate technology in their business to be able to serve their customers better,” she added.

Since offering the free Wi-Fi service to passengers, JAC Liner and Solid North Bus Express has seen an increase in the number of passengers.

“Businesses should always be innovative in this competitive industry,” said PLDT SME Nation Assistant Vice President Amil Azurin.

According to JAC Liner spokesperson Cathy Lagdaan, passengers who use this service are usually students and professionals who want to check their emails and access other social networking sites during long trips. Passengers can use this free Wi-Fi access instead of their cellular phone access to save on their phone expenses.

“We will install new buses with wi-fi before they are launched,” said Lagdaan.

“Being the first and only bus line to offer Wi-Fi in bus trips is really an advantage. The JAC Liner name has become more reliable and preferred bus line because of this value added service.”

PLDT and JAC Liner employees are all thumbs up for the partnership. From left: PLDT Business Solutions Head Jun Darjuan, PLDT SME Nation Area Business Head for GMM NE Jane Calilung, Catherine Lagdaan of JAC Liner, PLDT SME Nation Area Sales Head for GMM East Malou Labung-Talosig, PLDT SME Nation VP and Head Kat Luna-Abelarde, JAC Liner's EVP and Chief Financial Officer Jayson P. Chua, Financial Consultants Rudy Timbol and Aida Gadin, PLDT SME Nation Account Officer Jojo Escala, PLDT SME Nation AVP and Marketing Head Amil Azurin and PLDT Product Specialist Alain Go.