Smart introduces 4G technology to more Luzon, VisMin locations

MANILA, Philippines - Leading wireless services provider Smart Communications has introduced its fourth generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology to more key locations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

According to PLDT and Smart Technology Group head Rolando Peña, Smart LTE now covers most of Metro Manila and Cebu City and is currently undergoing tests in Davao City. “We are upgrading our network as we speak and soon, our subscribers will be able to enjoy the breakneck speeds that LTE promises” Peña said.

Introduced last April in Boracay, Smart LTE conducted its first public demo in Metro Manila in June. Based on actual speed tests, LTE is capable of reaching download speeds of up to 50 to 70 megabits per second and is thus dubbed as the fastest 4G technology in the Philippines today.

In a recent study by market research and analysis firm In-Stat (www.instat.com), LTE uptake is seen to grow 3400 percent within the next four years. Analysts attribute the exponential growth to the public’s increasing hunger for smart devices and high-speed services.

Similarly, the General Services Administration (GSA) recorded a 40 percent increase in the number of LTE-enabled gadgets in the United States during the period of March to June 2011.

In its quest to bring the power of the Internet into the hands of every Filipino, Smart is also improving the coverage of its Evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) service. HSPA+ is the natural evolution of standard High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) technology allowing for faster 3G download speeds.

To date, Smart’s HSPA+ technology is present in major urban centers including Iloilo City in Visayas and Zamboanga City in Mindanao. Smart is set to bring in HSPA+ devices within the month.

Smart, together with its parent company the Philippine Long Distance Co. (PLDT) has earmarked P67 billion to modernize its network.