Smart, Japan’s NTT Docomo partner for 5G roaming service

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT Inc.’s wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. has added Japan’s NTT Docomo to its growing roster of global partners for 5G roaming rollout.

Smart has teamed up with NTT Docomo to launch 5G roaming services, enabling Smart prepaid and postpaid customers in Japan to enjoy 5G data roaming speeds using their Smart 5G-capable SIM and 5G device.

NTT Docomo is Japan’s leading mobile operator with over 80 million subscriptions and is one of Asia’s 5G pioneers.

The company continues to expand and enhance its 5G network service in hundreds of Japanese cities, across all prefectures of the country.

“This partnership with NTT Docomo helps us provide an unmatched 5G roaming experience for Smart customers in Japan,” Smart vice president and head of roaming and consumer business Alice Ramos said.

“This is consistent with Smart’s collective goal to bring world-class services to the Filipino people,” Ramos said.

Both NTT Docomo and Smart are members of the CONEXUS Mobile Alliance, which is composed of nine member-telcos in Asia that are at the forefront of delivering innovative services to customers who frequently travel on business.

Despite roaming being the worst-hit telecom division by COVID-19, Smart and CONEXUS have continued to lay down roaming service improvements for international travelers.

Smart said it plans to launch more 5G roaming partnerships to provide world-class roaming services to its travelers this year as travel restrictions are expected to ease amid the worldwide vaccine rollout.

Smart’s partnership with NTT Docomo follows successful activations in Australia with Vodafone; China with China Mobile; Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia with Zain; full 5G roaming coverage in United Arab Emirates with Etisalat and du; Taiwan with FarEasTone and in South Korea with KT Corp.

In the country, Smart launched its commercial 5G service in July last year and was the first in the country to roll out its 5G service nationwide.

Smart’s 5G network has now over 2,300 sites nationwide, the most extensive in the country.

As the next generation of wireless technology, 5G enables next-level digital experiences when streaming HD videos seamlessly, playing mobile games without lag, making clear video calls without buffering, and uploading and downloading heavy files in an instant.