PLDT wireless arm Smart Communications, the first to launch 5G in the Philippines, has fired up more than 3,000 5G sites across the country as of May.
Smart has rolled out 5G in Metro Manila, Angeles City, Baguio City, Cavite City, Cebu City, Clark City, and Davao City. The company said it aims to end the year with over 4,000 5G sites.
As part of its push for 5G in the country, Smart recently expanded its Unli 5G offer to cover all Smart 5G sites nationwide. Apart from the cities mentioned above Smart’s Unli 5G offer is now available to customers at over 3,000 Smart 5G locations around the country, including Batangas, Bacolod, Boracay, Cagayan de Oro, Laguna, Pampanga, Pangasinan, and Quezon.
According to the company, the Unli 5G offer is available exclusively via the GigaLife App. To make the most of Unli 5G, Smart subscribers should have a Smart 5G-certified device and be in a Smart 5G-covered location. The Gigalife app has a feature that shows the location of 5G coverage in the country. Currently, all Smart LTE SIMs are already 5G-ready.
Local media reports quoted Smart senior vice president and head of consumer wireless business Jane Basas saying that 5G is expected to significantly contribute to revenues between 2022 and 2023.
PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, the country’s most extensive at over 478,000 kilometers as of end-March 2021, enables Smart’s mobile networks, reports pointed out.
However, Smart Communications reported just 1 percent of devices on its network were capable of using 5G during the first quarter of 2021. The bulk still came from 4G/LTE at 76 percent, followed by 3G and 2G at 8 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
