500 Smart stations with HSPA

After firing up more than 500 wireless base stations with Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) technology, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has become the largest high-speed wireless broadband network in the country. “We now have more than 3 times the number of HSPA+ sites compared to just a couple of months ago,” declared Smart’s Chief Wireless Advisor Orlando B. Vea. “We are launching several base stations every day.” The upgrades support the deployment of faster broadband services and products such as the Smart Bro Rocket Plug-it, the fastest prepaid USB dongle in the market today. The Rocket is capable of speeds of up to 12 Megabits per second or roughly 3 to 4 times faster than that of an average wireless connection, when in the vicinity of an HSPA+ base station. “We are transforming our network and services to meet present and future needs,” he added. Earlier this year, Smart and parent company Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) have arrived at what PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan referred to as a “Sputnik Moment.” The phrase, popularized by US President Barack Obama, refers to a time wherein a new round of investments must be made to take the group to the next level. PLDT and Smart have earmarked a total of P67 billion to transform its network - modernizing and optimizing critical elements such as fiber optic cables, wireless base stations and international gateways. Independent engineering firm NESIC Philippines, Inc. found that subscribers are already benefitting from the initial improvements in PLDT and Smart’s network in a series of speed tests. NESIC’s speed tests showed that Smart’s connection speeds outdid competitors by an average of 0.74Mbps in all test locations. Last April, Smart introduced Smart Evolution the fastest fourth generation (4G) technology in the Philippines.