Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is expanding the rollout of its 5G network across all Metro Manila cities and in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, and Pampanga.
Already, Smart's 5G service in Metro Manila covers 17 cities and municipalities.
It also covers the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat in Pampanga, Bacoor in Cavite, and Binan and Santa Rosa in Laguna.
"As we ramp-up our Smart 5G rollout across Metro Manila and the rest of the country, we bring an even higher level of customer experience in high-definition video, playing esports and using new digital services," according to Alfredo S. Panlilio, Smart Communications President and CEO and PLDT Chief Revenue Officer.
The telco also continues its nationwide 5G rollout in Cebu, Boracay, Iloilo, and Davao.
Smart launched its 5G service commercially in July and was the first to roll-out 5G nationwide.
In December, Smart unveiled its new Signature 5G Plans.
Smart has been conducting tests with 5G since 2016.
Last year, Smart with its technology partners Ericsson, Huawei and a leading 5G smartphone vendor, tested 5G Carrier Aggregation (CA).
This made Smart one of the first mobile operators in Asia Pacific to test CA in the live 5G network.
CA combines two or more separate bands of radio frequencies to create a bigger pipe for even faster data rates, increasing the speed and improving the overall 5G user experience.
In 2018, Smart fired up the country’s first 5G base stations in Makati with Huawei and the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga with Ericsson.
In 2019, Smart also launched the first Smart 5G Lifestyle hub and 5G-enabled shopping mall in Araneta City, as well as the first Smart 5G campus at the Ateneo de Manila University with Nokia.
These multi-vendor collaborations bring global use cases for Enterprise customers to innovate and fast-track their digital transformation journey.
Recently, Smart fired up 5G at the Gariath Concepts esports venue in Quezon City, the first 5G-powered esports hub in the country, and at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong City, the first 5G Media City.
Finally, the telco brought the country’s first 5G-powered sports broadcast at the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in Clark Freeport in Pampanga.