Rolando Peña, Smart’s head of technology, said the Antenna-Integrated Radio solution would ensure the efficient introduction of elements of GSM, 3G/WCDMA and fourth generation Long Term Evolution technologies into Smart’s existing networks by simplifying and reducing installation lead times while increasing coverage.
“The deployment of the AIR solution once again puts Smart ahead of its peers in the region. We expect the vast improvement in coverage and swiftness of installation times to greatly benefit our subscribers, especially as we see increasing usage of mobile Internet in our network,” he said.
Smart was the first operator in Southeast Asia to deploy the solution amid the continued rise in the use of mobile data across the network, Peña said.
Smart’s parent company, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., earlier said mobile Internet usage had grown strongly among the mobile subscribers of its wireless brands Smart and Sun Cellular, while PLDT’s mobile Internet revenues increased 49 percent on year in the first half.
PLDT has rolled out on-time network transformation initiatives to address the increasing demand for mobile data. Its network has now more than 9,835 cell sites, 15,116 cellular/mobile broadband base stations and 2,898 fixed wireless broadband-enabled base stations, supported by over 71,000 kilometers of fiber optic cabling, serving over 73.4 million subscribers.
“Network solutions like AIR allow our already supercharged infrastructure to become even more future-proof, and able to serve the demands of present and more advanced technologies, such as LTE-Advanced,” Peña said.
Smart also tested LTE-Advanced, which is deployed by operators in South Korea, the United Kingdom and other operators in South America, in Metro Manila and Davao.
Peña said LTE-A is a next-generation mobile broadband technology which can deliver data rates in excess of 200 megabits per second and up to a possible 700 mbps.
“The successful trials prove the readiness of the Smart network for the most advanced technologies, and the AIR solution can only serve to further strengthen this network,” he said.
Ericsson has commercially deployed the AIR solution for both Smart’s GSM and LTE networks.
“The market is experiencing a tremendous takeoff in mobile broadband and user expectations for speed and coverage are increasing the demands placed on networks. In order to cope with future capacity demands, Ericsson has a clearly defined small cell strategy that the AIR architecture is part of. When comparing 3G AIR with traditional 3G Radio Base Stations, there is a marked improvement in 3G coverage when using AIR. In addition, AIR simplifies and reduces installation lead times,” said Elie Hanna, president and country manager for Ericsson Philippines and Pacific Islands.
