Smart, Sun offer fixed unli-data roaming plans

MANILA, Philippines - The wireless units of dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) – Smart and Sun Cellular – beefed up their data offers to provide subscribers with seamless connectivity even when out of the country.

Smart executive vice president Charles Lim said the company now offers the All-Day Surf Abroad, a data roaming package that allows prepaid and postpaid subscribers to stay connected online in over 40 overseas destinations for as low as P450 per day.

He said the All-Day Surf Abroad is the first data roaming service available to prepaid subscribers.

“This highly anticipated service is our response to the growing demand for uninterrupted mobile connectivity not only in the country but also abroad, as more and more Filipinos are relying on mobile data in making informed decisions and meaningful interactions,” he said.

Lim, who is also head of Smart’s Wireless Consumer Division, said mobile data usage on PLDT’s wireless segment surged 121 percent in the first half while mobile Internet revenues jumped 77 percent to P3.7 billion from P1.7 billion during the period.

“With All-Day Surf Abroad, Smart takes the pulse of the market to provide them with unmatched mobile connectivity as they travel the world. In doing so, Smart also reaches the untapped prepaid data roaming segment, creating new revenue streams for the company,” he said.

He pointed out that Smart prepaid users may enjoy all-day mobile surfing for only P500 per day on Smart’s roaming partners in top Asian destinations including Hong Kong (via Hutchison); Indonesia (Indosat); Japan (NTT DoCoMo); Macau (Hutchison) Malaysia; Singapore (Starhub); South Korea (KT); Taiwan (FarEastOne); Thailand (True); and Vietnam (Vinaphone).

On the other hand, Smart postpaid subscribers may enjoy all-day mobile surfing on the country’s largest roaming network covering 41 destinations for only P450 per day in select destinations in Asia and Oceania1, and for P550 per day in major destinations in Europe, Africa, Middle East and the United States.

Apart from providing subscribers with seamless connectivity the new data roaming products allow subscribers to control their roaming expenses and dispel fears over incurring huge bills said Smart Data and International Services head Michele Curran.

“By pegging our All-Day Surf Abroad package rates to pesos, subscribers have a clear idea of their bill so they are able to manage their roaming expenses better. We have also set up safeguards in our system so our subscribers may make the most of their roaming subscription – no more, no less,” Curran said.

Likewise, Sun Cellular also launched its All-Day Data Roaming package in select Asian destinations for only P430 per day.

“With Sun’s All-Day Data Roaming package, you may also travel more confidently, knowing that you can easily google much-needed information and stay in touch with your family and friends through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,” said Sun Cellular senior manager for international services Ruth Eva Ritumalta.

The service is available in Singapore (M1); Hong Kong (Smartone); Malaysia (Celcom); Saudi Arabia (STC); Taiwan (FarEasTone); Vietnam (Vinaphone); Macau (Smartone); Qatar (QtelOoredoo); Cambodia (Smart Axiata); Bangladesh (RobiAxiata Limited); and Sri Lanka (Dialog Sri Lanka).