Smart Wi-fi transforms EDSA into an ‘information superhighway’

MANILA, Philippines -  PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. is lighting up the whole stretch of EDSA with carrier-grade Smart Wi-fi, whose backhaul capacity of up to one gigabit per second can support up to 3,000 connected users with robust Wi-fi connectivity.

“We’re uplifting the quality of life in the metro by transforming the country’s busiest road into an information superhighway powered by super speed Smart Wifi,” said Juan Victor Hernandez, senior vice president and head of enterprise for PLDT and Smart.

“With Smart Wi-fi, workers waiting for the MRT or riding EDSA route buses can download attachments and send email, update their social media accounts, stream videos and listen to music on-the-go, making their trips along EDSA more productive,” Hernandez added.

In addition to Wifi connectivity on the 13 MRT platforms, Smart Wi-fi will also power connections on the street level along EDSA even between MRT stations, providing commuters with a seamless mobile experience. This service is available to subscribers of all networks.

The deployment of Smart Wi-fi goes hand-in-hand with Smart’s continued LTE rollout, which aims to improve indoor coverage, as well as increase capacity of Smart’s cell sites to handle more calls, texts, and ever-increasing mobile data traffic.

“Smart is committed to providing our subscribers with the best wireless data experience through the simultaneous expansion of Smart Wi-fi and Smart LTE throughout the country,” Hernandez said.

PLDT and Smart have committed to make LTE progressively available to 95 percent of the country’s cities and municipalities by the end of 2018.

Aside from EDSA, carrier-grade Smart Wifi service is also available at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Light Railway Transit, and in key regional airports, seaports and transport hubs all over the country.

Commuters from all networks can surf like never before on Smart’s super speed Wi-fi, which is free for the first 30 minutes, without data cap. Load cards can be purchased to extend user sessions for P20 for two hours, valid for two days; and P50 for 10 hours, valid for five days. Smart subscribers can topup for as low as P10, for 30 minutes, valid for a day.