PLDT Group set to launch carrier-grade WiFi service

MANILA, Philippines - Telecommunications leader Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and wholly-owned subsidiary Smart Communications are set to introduce a new wireless Internet service in 2012.

Dubbed as “carrier-grade WiFi”, the service will allow mobile device users to log on the Web using indoor and outdoor WiFi hotspots through the use of a prepaid or postpaid account. Unlike regular public WiFi Hotspots in malls, shops and schools, carrier-grade WiFi can be made present even in local neighborhoods.

“We will make this possible by installing access points in our base stations, thus allowing users to connect to our WiFi even in their own homes. All they need to do is sign in with a username and password which they can purchase online or in retail stores. In the near future, we would make automatic authentication through the use of the subscriber’s SIM card,” PLDT technology group head Rolando Peña said.

As the service uses standard WiFi technology found in most portable devices, the carrier-grade WiFi service can be used by all mobile users regardless of their carrier networks. This makes Smart’s improved network accessible to all Filipinos who are looking for a more stable and more reliable wireless connection.

“We are taking all possible steps to make our carrier-grade WiFi service the best option for Filipinos to connect to the Internet. There will be no need for them to purchase additional equipment and eventually, the same log-in credentials can be used to connect to our 3G services,” Peña added.

With the nationwidest coverage and the most extensive and most modern infrastructure, PLDT and Smart said their combined network is the best prepared to take on the digital demands of the modern Filipino.

Upgrades amounting to P67 billion aim to take the Internet experience to even greater heights with the introduction of both fixed and wireless broadband technologies such as Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and Long Term Evolution (LTE), the companies noted.

“It is an end-to-end solution that we are offering - from the wireless access right down to the international gateways. We have invested in the right equipment so we can deliver nothing but the best to our customers. Our efforts in this field will help us realize our vision of bringing the power of the Internet into the hands of even more Filipinos,” Peña said.