Smart expands 5G coverage to Visayas-Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. has become the country’s first telco to launch 5G services nationwide.

Smart, which launched its 5G service commercially in July, is rolling out its commercial 5G service to key cities in the Visayas and Mindanao.

These areas include Boracay, Cebu, Iloilo and Davao.

“The commercial launch of 5G underscores our commitment to bring the best digital technologies to our customers across the country,” Smart president and CEO and PLDT chief revenue officer Alfredo Panlilio said.

“As we continue to lead the way in 5G in the Philippines, we are now bringing Smart 5G’s super-fast data service to even more customers as we expand into the Visayas and Mindanao and extend our Smart 5G service to our prepaid customers as well,” Panlilio said.

The new areas in the Visayas and Mindanao add to the live Smart 5G sites in Makati Central Business District, Bonifacio Global City CBD, Araneta City, Mall of Asia Bay Area, North Avenue in Quezon City, Taft Avenue in Manila, Ortigas CBD, New Clark City in Pampanga, EDSA and in strategic locations in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and the cities of Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Taguig, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Parañaque, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Navotas, San Juan and Pasay.

Initially available to Smart Signature, Infinity and other postpaid subscribers, Smart 5G is also now available to Smart prepaid subscribers, who can now enjoy the super-fast data service of 5G in selected areas using certified 5G handsets with 5G-activated SIMs.

Smart has teamed up with smartphone manufacturers like Huawei, Samsung, realme and Vivo in offering Smart 5G-certified devices at Smart’s physical and online stores.

5G, the latest evolution in wireless communications, offers fiber-like data speeds on mobile and ultra-low latency which enable next-level customer experience in uploading and downloading large files, streaming high-resolution videos, playing online games and benefitting from other cutting-edge applications.

Panlilio said the rollout of 5G in more areas in the country complements the deployment of Smart’s LTE network and the expansion of PLDT’s fiber infrastructure.

“Combined with our fiber and 4G/LTE resources, we are providing our customers with the widest range of powerful connectivity services, as the country’s only fully integrated telco and digital services provider,” he said.

To date, Smart’s high-speed broadband service serves 95 percent of the country’s population. Supporting Smart’s mobile network is PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, the most extensive in the country at 360,000 kilometers.