Smart WiFi Expands Across The Philippines

Smart bolsters their effort to improve internet connectivity in the country by ramping up their Smart WiFi installation in high traffic areas such as schools, hospitals, government buildings.

Smart WiFi at MRT stations

Schools such as Ateneo de Naga in Bicol, De La Salle University, Holy Cross College in Davao, Pamantasan ng Lungson ng Maynila, University of Cebu Banilad, West Visayas State University, and University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Law and College of Engineering are just some of the beneficiary of newly installed Smart WiFi.

Related: OpenSignal: Smart Now Has Faster LTE Speeds And Bigger Network Availability

In addition to that, government offices around Metro Manila, Batangas, Benguet, Bulacan, Cavite, Ilocos Norte, Laguna, Palawan, Cebu, and many more are also enjoying faster internet connectivity due to Smart WiFi.

PLDT and Smart's Senior VP and Head of Enterprise Jovy Hernandez stated this about Smart's effort to turn the Philippines into a "Smart Nation":

By installing Smart Wifi in these important establishments, we are empowering more Filipinos by making quality connectivity more accessible for them to do their school work or access important government services. With this extensive roll-out of carrier-grade Smart Wifi across the country, PLDT is leading the country’s digital transformation into a Smart Nation.

These Smart WiFi connections are no joke either. With a back haul capacity of 1 gigabit per second tasks such as checking email, social media browsing, streaming music and videos and even downloading files is promised to be faster than ever.

Festivities will never be bogged down with slow connectivity as well. Smart promises to also include festivals in their efforts. Case in point, this October, Smart will be installing Smart WiFi in specific places in Zambaonga for the Hermosa Festival.

They also powered the Kadayawan Festival in Davao and the Tuna Festival in General Santos City. 

This improvements started last year when Smart decided to install Smart WiFi in all four terminals of Ninoy Aquino International Airport. They then proceeded to do the same in bus terminals and seaports as well.

As of September, restaurants and other establishments were also provided with "Smart Spots" that gives them and their customers high speed WiFi connection.

Eric R. Alberto, Chief Revenue Officer of PLDT and Smart, stated this about their modernization efforts:

The nationwide roll out of Smart Wifi complements the ongoing network expansion and modernization program across the country. The network upgrade has resulted in significant improvements in voice, SMS, and mobile Internet coverage and quality, particularly on its LTE (Long Term Evolution) service. All these form part of an overarching effort to make the Internet accessible to all.

Smart's LTE improvement effort started when they re-equipped their cell sites with low frequency bands such as 700 MHz and 850 MHz for improved indoor coverage and high frequency bands as 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz to improve their cell site's capacity for calls, text and mobile data traffic. 

Smart looks to improve their LTE coverage to 95% of cities and municipalities by the end of 2018.