Smart launches RP’s 1st fixed satellite service

As part of its efforts to provide universal access even to the remotest areas, wireless services provider Smart Communications launched last Friday the country’s first fixed satellite service called Smart Link in the Philippines’ northernmost province of Batanes Islands.

In simple ceremonies held at the provincial capitol in Basco, Smart president and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno said the SmartLink fixed satellite service is in line with the company’s vision to reach unserved and underserved areas in the country by providing quality, affordable, and reliable cutting edge telecommunications service.

"We are pleased to launch SmartLink, Smart’s satellite service powered by Smart ACeS. This will provide our subscribers in areas with no GSM coverage or landline installations, instant connectivity to any area around the world. Communications play a vital role in people’s lives and we see that this new service will make a big impact," Nazareno said.

In his opening remarks, Batanes provincial governor Vicente S. Gato said, "This (fixed satellite service) will remove the impression that Batanes is isolated from the rest of the Philippines."

"We are amazed with this newest communications breakthrough. Batanes is now equipped with affordable, high quality and reliable communications facilities. This will help bring Batanes to the forefront of progress. I would like to thank PLDT and Smart to take this initiative in putting up this telecom facility in the Batanes province," Gato added.

The Smart Link fixed satellite service utilizes the ACeS satellite technology which covers the entire Asia Pacific region with three gateways in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. The SmartLink plug-and-play unit consists of a main terminal that contains the phone functions and the SIM, an all-weather resistant dome antenna and cable, and a telephone handset.

Smart’s fixed satellite service utilizes the ACeS satellite-based mobile technology known as Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS), the latest technology in telecommunication service that makes use of a satellite to transmit and receive telecommunication from satellite mobile phones.

With a population density of 67.7 persons per sq.km., Batanes has one of the lowest teledensities in the country with only 24 installed lines, according to year 2000 figures from the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC). However, it has the country’s highest financial resources per capita at P11,182.6. Average annual family income at P160,355 in the fourth highest among all provinces.

"This is a fitting place to launch our Smart Link service. Batanes typifies our target market — geographically and topographically challenging, yet with a public ready for such a service," said Cristina Mariano, Smart public access department head.

"Already, our PCOs using the same technology are making good business and people in those areas appreciate the service because they did not have any access to telephones before," she added.

Smart in partnership with AceS Philippines launched its satellite-GSM dual mobile phone service one year ago using Ericsson R190 handsets. In January this year, it launched the first satellite — based Public Calling Office in San Miguel, Catanduanes — the "land of the howling winds" using the same technology. In February, AceS Philippines was integrated into Smart as part of parent company, PLDT’s convergence strategy.

Smart Link is part of Smart’s Public Access program, which includes its Public Calling Offices or Smart Tawag Centers and SmarTalk, the country’s first GSM payphone.

A subsidiary of PLDT, the Philippines’ dominant telecommunications carrier, Smart is the country’s largest and fastest growing wireless services provider with 5.4 million subscribers running on its GSM network. It has been introducing innovative wireless services such as Smart zed, its mobile portal for personalized services, and Smart Money, its award-winning electronic wallet linked to a mobile phone.