Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) launched its 5G roaming service in South Korea in partnership with KT Corp., Korea's largest telecommunications company.
This year, as the world prepares to ease travel restrictions amid the worldwide vaccine rollout, Smart plans to launch more 5G roaming partnerships to provide world-class roaming services to its travelers.
"With international partnerships such as this, we continue our journey toward bringing world-class service to the Filipino people," says Alfredo S. Panlilio, Smart Communications President and CEO and PLDT Chief Revenue Officer.
The focus now is "5G, the latest evolution of wireless communications, brings our customers closer to an even higher level of customer experience in terms of enjoying high-definition video, playing esports and using new digital services," he added.
Now, Smart prepaid and postpaid subscribers who are roaming in South Korea can enjoy 5G data roaming speeds using their Smart SIM and 5G device.
Smart roamers can maximize the service by subscribing to GigaRoam plans while overseas.
All they need to do is to go to roam.smart.com.ph while they are abroad. GigaRoam plans start at P999 for a 5-day data roaming plan.
Smart's recently launched GigaRoam packs provide more data allocation with extended validity and are designed to give roamers seamless connectivity while abroad.
"We are happy to partner with KT in providing 5G connectivity for Smart subscribers who are traveling in South Korea," according to Alice Ramos, Vice President for International Roaming and Consumer Business at Smart.
"South Korea remains to be a top roaming destination for Filipino business and leisure travelers," she explained.
5G roaming speeds mean faster upload of travel blogs and videos, faster download speeds for K-Drama videos popular with the Filipino market, and seamless data connectivity for work-productivity apps.
KT Corp. leads the new era of innovations in one of the world’s most connected countries with 5G, Big Data, Cloud, IoT, Blockchain and other transformative technologies.
KT launched the world’s first nationwide commercial 5G network in April 2019, after showcasing the first trial 5G services at the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in February 2018.
KT and Smart are members of the CONEXUS Mobile Alliance, which is composed of 9 member-telcos in Asia.
CONEXUS is currently chaired by Katrina Luna-Abelarde, President and CEO at PLDT Global and head of International and Carrier Business.
Despite roaming being the worst-hit telecom division by COVID-19, Smart and CONEXUS have continued to lay down roaming service improvements for international travelers.