Smart utters crucial ‘hello’ in first video call via 5G

Smart Communications, the wireless subsidiary of PLDT Inc., announced progress in its 5G program ahead of its commercial rollout scheduled for next year.

Smart said in a statement it recently made the first successful video call in Southeast Asia using a standalone 5G network with pilot partner Nokia. The call was made using Nokia’s 5G SA core, radio and user equipment installed at the PLDT-Smart 5G Technolab.

“What we’re seeing here—this is real 5G. For the first time, we are experiencing the true capabilities of 5G. For example, 5G’s real low latency can only be achieved in this configuration. This is just the first milestone to show what is possible, and we brought it here to the Technolab,” PLDT-Smart chief information and technical advisor Joachim Horn said.

A standalone 5G network allows the full benefit of 5G capabilities to be tested and demonstrated. This differs from a nonstandalone network, which combines the use of 5G and existing 4G/LTE resources to transmit data.

5G SA technology paves the way for a variety of new industry applications that utilize 5G’s full features, such as massive connectivity for thousands of devices, ultra-low latency of under 10ms (milliseconds), ultra-high reliability, distributed cloud computing, unified security and network slicing, among others.

In March, PLDT-Smart signed a memorandum of understanding with Nokia to deploy 5G standalone solutions in schools.

The companies are collaborating to identify innovative 5G SA solutions, such as artificial intelligence, drones and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

The following month, PLDT-Smart launched Ateneo de Manila University as the first “Smart 5G campus.” Under their deal, PLDT-Smart and Nokia will help set up Ateneo’s Convergent Technologies Center with a 5G lab.

“Among the applications being eyed for development are IoT solutions, augmented and virtual reality services, robotics, drones and analytics,” Smart said in the statement.

Smart is deploying 5G base stations in the Ateneo campus to support these programs. —MIGUEL R. CAMUS