Smart exploring space-based 5G technology

PLDT Inc.’s wireless unit, Smart Communications Inc., is teaming up with a Washington-based telecommunications firm to enable space-based 5G services backed by low earth orbit satellites in the country.

Arvin Siena, PLDT technology strategy and transformation office head, said the collaboration with Omnispace would allow them to explore potential use cases of the 5G technology for the local market.

Among them were activating 5G connectivity in remote areas and the use of Internet of Things and sensors to monitor the weather, he said.

“This is also part of PLDT’s broader initiatives to future-proof our services, including Smart 5G,” Siena added.

Omnispace recently launched two satellites, which is the initial phase of the company’s development and delivery of its 5G-capable satellite network.

The US-based firm’s 5G non-terrestrial network “will interconnect with terrestrial or land-based mobile networks to serve mobile subscribers utilizing the company’s 2 GHz (gigahertz) mobile satellite spectrum allocation.”

“Together with Smart, we seek to bridge the digital divide, while also providing the communications infrastructure to power the development of the Filipino economy of the future,” said Brian Pemberton, vice president for sales and marketing at Omnispace.

The Pangilinan-led firms also signed a partnership with US-based AST Spacemobile Inc. in July last year to provide space-based connectivity in the country’s far-flung areas, supporting online learning, e-commerce and digital banking, among others.