SMART Communications Inc. achieved another milestone in mobile technology and innovations as it brought the country’s first 5G-powered sports broadcast of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Filipino Cup on Sunday in Clark in Pampanga.
With its fiber-like speeds on mobile devices, Smart 5G made it so much simpler and more efficient to capture and broadcast all the hardcourt action. As a result, fans could watch more angles and content on their favorite teams and players.
Smart 5G would also power ball-tracking cameras and enable heat-sensing cameras to constantly monitor the health and safety of all the members of the 12-team league and the working teams behind the PBA.
Media and bloggers covering the games inside the bubble could reach more audience powered by Smart 5G.
“Both technology and basketball are in the DNA of Smart. In this unprecedented PBA league, we are bringing these two together with the country’s first ever 5G-powered sports broadcast, paving the way for new exciting experiences for organizers, players, and fans of the sport,” PLDT-Smart Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said.
“This reset is huge for Filipino basketball fans all over the country who have been missing the sport since we had that opening and ‘last’ game in March. Our support for PBA is in line with our thrust to bring Filipinos closer to their passions powered by mobile innovations made simple by Smart,” said Al S. Panlilio, PLDT chief revenue officer and Smart president and CEO.
“The PBA board worked hard for the league to restart and I thank all teams for the support. All these for the fans,” PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said. “It’s an honor for the league to be the first to experience 5G-powered sports broadcast in the country.”
Smart recently became the first mobile services provider in the country to roll out Smart 5G sites in key locations nationwide as it gears up to turn the Philippines into a “Smart 5G country.”