SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – The race is heating up between rivals Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. to provide subscribers with faster internet connection.
Both are continuing to roll out 4th generation (4G) infrastructure for the long term evolution (LTE) as well as high speed packet access plus (HSPA+) technology. (WATCH: TechRap: Globe, Smart LTE shootout; READ: Smart vs Globe: Good LTE Hunting)
“Our 4G LTE rollout is the cutting edge of our wireless broadband offerings. This technology platform offers our subscribers the best high-speed, multi-media mobile internet experience,” Smart technology services head Rolando Peña said.
Smart, the mobile arm of dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), is pushing to expand its 4G LTE network consisting of over 1,000 sites covering 180 cities and municipalities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
It is the only operator that provides 4G LTE coverage for mobile users in Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Navotas, Paranaque, Pasay, Pateros, and Valenzuela. It also covers key areas in Albay, Bataan, Batangas, Benguet, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Mindoro Oriental, Pangasinan, Quezon and Zambales. It is also the sole 4G LTE provider in Capiz, Iloilo, Leyte and Negros Oriental in the Visayas, and Misamis Oriental and Zamboanga Del Sur in Mindanao.
It claims to be the first to conduct tests of LTE Advanced, the next stage of development of LTE. Smart said that in the past 3 months, the mobile operator has already tested LTE Advanced in Manila, Davao City and Boracay, Aklan.
Smart’s expanded 4G LTE coverage is supported by the domestic fiber optic cable network of PLDT and Smart which is now over 71,000 kilometers long after completing a P67.1 billion expansion program.
Globe
Ayala-led Globe Telecom is hot on its heels.
“Globe’s rollout of 4G infrastructure is well on its course in line with our commitment to provide the fastest speed on the world’s best mobile phones and gadgets,” stressed Globe chief technical adviser Robert Tan.
He stressed that Globe has activated more 4G sites that is now available in key cities in Metro Manila that include Makati City, Pasig City, Quezon City, Taguig, Manila, Muntinlupa, San Juan, and Las Pinas. READ: Globe 4G LTE rolls out in Makati CBD)
LTE infrastructure has also been established in Metro Cebu and Metro Davao as well as in select areas in the provinces of Bohol, Batangas, Negros Occidental, La Union, Rizal, Aklan Laguna, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Cavite, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Isabela, Ilocos, Quirino, Tarlac and Boracay.
“Majority of the planned LTE sites for 2013 will be activated in the second half of the year,” he added.
About 78% of the company’s network is already running on HSPA+, providing faster mobile browsing experience. In Metro Manila, about 96% currently utilizes HSPA+.
Tan emphasized the company’s approach to the LTE rollout has been to focus on “large contiguous areas” instead of “pocket activations” and “hotspots” to ensure greater and more stable coverage for customers.
He added that Globe would have comprehensive HSPA+ coverage of close to 100% by the end of 2013 amid its US$700 million project to transform its access, transport and core network. – Rappler.com
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