Smart steps up internet infra rollout in Cebu

PLDT Inc. said its flagship wireless unit Smart Communications was accelerating the roll out of its high-speed mobile internet infrastructure in Cebu province.

PLDT said Smart had completed network improvement efforts in Metro Cebu and was now looking at other areas to increase coverage and quality of 3G and LTE services.

“Many opportunities and possibilities are now within the reach of our Cebuano Smart and Sun subscribers,” said Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT and Smart senior vice president for network planning and engineering.

Tamayo said Smart was targeting to roll out its LTE service in more than 25 areas in Cebu.

“After completing Metro Cebu, we will roll out LTE to the rest of the province this year, including some of Cebu’s tourist-popular and progressive areas, such as Daanbantayan, Moalboal, Oslob, and Toledo City,” Tamayo said.

“Overall, we target to blanket 70 percent of the country’s population with LTE by the end of this year,” he added.

Smart has been increasing the rollout of LTE frequencies, including the 700 megahertz spectrum, which it gained access to as part of a joint deal with rival Globe Telecom to buy out the telco assets of San Miguel Corp. last year.

Subscribers can access LTE via certain devices and SIM cards.

“Subscribers who have LTE phones but don’t have LTE SIMs must upgrade their SIMs to be able to maximize the LTE network,” Tamayo said. “They can swap their SIMs for free and retain their numbers.”