Smart gears up for influx of ‘superphones’

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications Inc., the wireless unit of dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), is gearing up for the influx of “superphones” with the expected explosion in the number of long term evolution (LTE) technology users.

Kathy Carag, head of the postpaid business of Smart, said manufacturers are expected to ramp up the production of smartphones with advanced specifications, making them “superphones.”

“Superphones are helping propel the market forward. Future-forward features such as LTE connectivity, high powered processors, high definition screens and cameras also elevate the demand for quality connectivity,” Carag stressed.

With the fastest wireless technology in the world today, LTE is capable of download speeds several times faster than present-day 3G and HSPA+ standards.

Smart LTE is currently present in a total of 46 cities and 69 municipalities nationwide.

Smart has launched a number of LTE devices including the iPhone 5, the Samsung Galaxy S4, the LG Optimus G, the Sony Xperia Z, the Nokia Lumia 920, the ZTE T82, and the Huawei Ascend D1

Powered by the latest multi-core processors and the latest versions of their respective mobile operating systems, these devices rival even the most high-powered laptops today.

Carag said a recent study by technology market research firm ABI Research revealed a doubling of LTE users by the fourth quarter of this year will result in huge demand for rich mobile multimedia content such as HD videos, music and photos.

“We are expecting all major smartphone manufacturers to ramp up production of LTE devices especially with LTE users in Asia-Pacific expected to balloon to 72.1 million by the year’s end,” she added.

The PLDT Group last year completed a P67.1-billion network modernization and transformation program, bringing its fiber optic cable network in the country to more than 54,000 kilometers.

Unlike legacy copper wiring which uses electrical signals to transmit data, fiber optic cables use beams of light to send a “pulse” from one end to another. The cable itself has no known limits and is considered by experts worldwide as a true future-proof technology.

“Being the only telco with a 100 percent super-charged network in the Philippines, Smart is the only wireless services provider that would enable the latest and the best LTE devices live up to their fullest potential,” Carag said.

The PLDT Group is spending about P29 billion for its capital expenditures this year or 20 percent lower than the P36.4 billion in 2012. Of the total amount, about P2.5 billion would be used to extend its fiber optic cable facilities by rolling out another 5,000 kilometers.

The expansion would extend the total reach of the company’s fiber network to almost 60,000 kilometers. The fiber expansion program for 2013 would cover the domestic fiber optic network (DFON) used for long haul applications, fiber-to-the home (FTTH), fiber-in the-loop (FITL) and other inter-office fibering projects.