Smart fires up commercial 5G SA network in Makati

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. has fired up the first batch of its 5G stand-alone (SA) sites in the country.

Smart, which first began exploring 5G in 2016, said the firing up of its commercial 5G SA sites in Makati further ramps up the company’s 5G leadership and cements its position at the forefront of 5G innovations in the country.

“Through the years, PLDT and Smart have been at the forefront of breakthrough innovations in the telco industry, including 5G. With the first batch of our 5G SA sites now fully operational, we are starting to see the true capabilities of 5G, which will play a critical role in the advancement of massive IoT, healthcare and smart cities, delivering customer experience that is truly world-class,” PLDT Inc. and Smart president and CEO Alfredo Panlilio said.

With the 5G SA in place, Smart said it could soon offer Voice over New Radio (VoNR) and network slicing capabilities, as well as support new industrial and enterprise opportunities.

Smart made its first successful VoNR call in July at the Technolab in Smart Tower in Makati City.

5G SA technology is expected to pave the way for a variety of new industry applications that utilize 5G’s full features, according to Smart.

It is seen providing super-fast response times and faster access to higher data rates that are required by cloud gaming or immersive media.

Smart said the technology would also help drive the future-readiness of telco network, creating new business opportunities and enabling new consumer services beyond the mobile phone screens.

“Technology plays an important role in today’s society as evidently seen during the pandemic. 5G and LTE have provided us with the means to stay connected with our loved ones, work, and study from our homes, and find means to keep ourselves entertained as we continue to keep our families safe,” PLDT and Smart head of technology Mario Tamayo said.

“5G SA, as an innovation platform, will create new opportunities for enterprises and consumers that will maximize its ultra-reliable and low latency capabilities. This enables industrial automation, autonomous mobile robotics deployment, safe remote crane operations, fast response in gaming and interactive video streaming, among others. We are creating opportunities for the Filipino enterprises to compete in the global arena,” Tamayo said.

Smart operates the widest 5G Network in the country with over 4,000 sites deployed nationwide.

The company in 2018 fired up the country’s first 5G base stations, and in 2019 made the first 5G SA-powered video call in Southeast Asia.