Smart Communications Inc. on Monday claimed it is the first Filipino telco to launch its 5G services nationwide, as it rolls out 5G services in key cities in Visayas and Mindanao.
Alfredo S. Panlilio, the company’s president, said Smart is adding Boracay, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao to Smart’s list of 5G-powered areas in the country, which include Metro Manila, New Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, among others.
“The commercial launch of 5G underscores our commitment to bring the best digital technologies to our customers across the country. As we continue to lead the way in 5G in the Philippines, we are now bringing Smart 5G’s super-fast data service to even more customers as we expand into Visayas and Mindanao and extend our Smart 5G service to our Prepaid customers as well,” he said.
The roll out of 5G in more areas, he added, complements the 4G and fiber infrastructures of Smart.
“Combined with our fiber and 4G/LTE resources, we are providing our customers with the widest range of powerful connectivity services, as the country’s only fully integrated telco and digital services provider,” he said.
Smart’s parent, PLDT Inc., has been developing its 5G products for the past 3 years, partnering with different vendors to test out the best fit for its network and the demands of its Filipino consumers. It has also tied-up with different groups to create the Smart 5G Alliance.
5G is seen to enable machine-to-machine communication via mobile. Its use cases worldwide span in different industries such as retail, transport, manufacturing, logistics and warehousing sectors, as well as intelligent solutions for customer support and smart homes, among others.
PLDT said its telco core income in the first half reached P13.9 billion, a 5-percent increase versus the P13.2 billion registered the year prior as its individual, home, and enterprise businesses also posted positive results during the period.
Its net income was flat at P12.2 billion.
The company’s service revenues rose by 7 percent to P82.8 billion, from P78.3 billion, driven by a 16-percent increase in revenues from the consumer wireless individual business group to P39.8 billion, the 7-percent growth in home revenues to P19.6 billion, and the 5-percent rise in revenues from the enterprise group to P20.3 billion.