Smart launches LTE SIM check via SMS

The common question for most Filipinos that use smartphones is if their phones/SIM card is LTE ready. Well, Smart subscribers will now have an easier way of finding out.

Is your Smart SIM card LTE ready?

Smart is launching their LTE SIM check program via SMS. Checking if your SIM card is LTE-ready is just a text away. To do it, you just have to send SIMCHECK to 5832 for free. You will then receive a response that will confirm if you have a LTE-ready SIM card or not.

Subscribers that are not yet LTE-ready are then urged to upgrade their SIM cards to the nearest Smart Store in their area. This process is free and will allow the user to retain their number.

Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT and Smart Senior Vice President for Network Planning and Engineering, stated this about this development:

To really benefit from the LTE network that we are now rolling out, our customers must have an LTE-capable smart phone with an LTE SIM.

He further added:

We are reminding people about this point because It is quite possible that some of our customers are using non-LTE SIMs in LTE handsets, or it could be the other way around—they could be using LTE SIMs with non-LTE handsets.  We need to get all three elements together —LTE network, LTE SIM and LTE device -- to get the best experience.

Smart is currently in the middle of a three-year project to expand their LTE coverage in the country. They want to deliver the best mobile data services to their customers. Smart's LTE network can currently handle frequencies at 700 MHz, 850 MHz, 1800MHz, 2100Mhz.

The improvements to their LTE network is already bearing fruit. Smart's LTE speeds were recently cited by wireless research firm OpenSignal as the fastest in the country with speeds topping up at 10.6 Mbps.

OpenSignal stated this about Smart's network improvements:

In 4G speed, Smart was really able to strut its stuff in the NCR and Mindanao. In those two regions Smart not only exceeded its national average LTE download speed of 10.6 Mbps, but it beat out competition by huge margins in our test results (by more than 4 Mbps in both cases).

Smart even posted LTE speeds of 11.7 Mbps in Mindanao, 12.4 Mbps in Metro Manila, 8.3 Mbps in North Luzon, 9.3 Mbps in South Luzon and 7.1 Mbps in Visayas.

In line with network improvements, Smart also expanded their content offers for customers' that loves to stream videos and shows. The Smart Video Time 99 package comes with 2 GB of data allocation for iWant TV and iFlix. This promo is valid for 7 days so you can watch shows and blockbusters films to your heart's content.

Smart also announced that they are upgrading their cell sites to double their LTE capacity in Marikina and Quezon City. This move will give their subscribers in both of these cities improved mobile data service and superior network capacity.

In addition to that, they ahve already finished their LTE rollout in Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Boracay and in Rizal province. They are still working in Metro Manila and in key cities.

Smart projects that more than 90% of the country's population will have access to Smart's LTE network by the end of 2018.