PLDT to transform Ateneo into ‘Smart 5G campus’

MANILA, Philippines — The Ateneo de Manila University will soon become the country’s first “Smart 5G campus.”

PLDT, through its wireless arm Smart Communications Inc., has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ateneo to partner in the development of next-generation applications and services that will run on Smart’s 5G wireless network.

Under the memorandum, PLDT-Smart, together with their technology partner Nokia, will help set up the Ateneo’s Convergent Technologies Center with a 5G lab that will enable the university’s students and tech experts to co-develop practical and relevant solutions.

Among the applications eyed for development are Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, augmented and virtual reality services, robotics, drones and analytics what will be supported by 5G base stations that Smart will set up across the campus.

“We’re truly grateful for this gift. More than just a tool, we are excited about the applications, especially as it refers to inclusion, resilience and sustainability,” Ateneo president Jose Ramon Villarin said.

“Our technology these days can be a wonderful toolbox, and we believe that it can be a portal to greater things,” Villarin added.

PLDT-Smart chairman and chief executive office Manny V. Pangilinan stressed the role of technology to improve the welfare and lives of the people.

“It is our most profound hope that the provision of 5G will further enable the students of the Ateneo to create, develop and explore new ways to continuously uplift our nation,” Pangilinan said.

The launch of 5G at the Ateneo is the third leg in the PLDT Group’s roadmap of 5G deployment in the Philippines.

Last year, PLDT and Smart set up Smart 5G Cities in the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone and the Makati City central business district, paving the way for piloting 5G solutions in these areas in cooperation with enterprise partners and local government units.

More Smart 5G cities will be launched in various areas and campuses in the coming months, according to the telecommunications company.

“This partnership is indeed exciting, as we believe that it will work to further accelerate the adoption of 5G in the Philippines – bringing in an influx of business opportunities and allowing a greater number of Filipinos with access to the best of technology,” PLDT-Smart chief technology and information advisor Joachim Horn said of the partnership with Ateneo.

“Throughout our years of partnership, Ateneo has always aimed to provide their students with access to the best tools for learning and we are hopeful that this latest development will enhance the capabilities of its students. This will provide us a platform to work together and develop solutions from 5G use cases, which will truly deliver value to the Filipino people,” added Jovy Hernandez, senior vice president and head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

With its capability to deliver extremely high speeds coupled with low latency, PLDT-Smart said 5G opens up many possible applications for the Internet of Things and smart cities; in smart applications for the retail, transport, manufacturing, logistics and warehousing sectors; and for intelligent solutions for customer support and smart homes, among others.