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In order to improve the coverage and quality of the company’s voice, SMS and mobile internet/LTE (Long Term Evolution) service, Smart Communications is expanding their network all over Metro Manila in the months to come.

Upon completion of the expansion, a notable boost in the range of Smart’s LTE and 3G mobile data services is expected across the 17 cities of the and municipalities of the metro. LTE coverage will be four times faster and wider, while 3G coverage will be doubled in Metro Manila.

According to PLDT and Smart’s Chief Technology and Information  Advisor Joachim Horn,  “Smart is rolling out the fastest and most powerful mobile data network in the country, and we are focused on improving indoor coverage since we know that people use mobile internet services mostly indoors, particularly in Metro Manila – in their homes, offices, restaurants, coffee shops, and the like.”

He also stated that 2,500 cell sites across Metro Manila would have the new base station equipment. The equipment will be using low-frequency bands (700 MHz, 850 MHz and 900 MHz) for both LTE and 3G services since it provides better indoor signals and reaches larger areas.

Aside from this, the expansion also includes high-frequency bands (1800 MHz and 2100 MHz) which would increase the capacity of each Smart cell site, allowing more call, texts and the mobile data traffic.

NETWORK IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Smart started the improvement in Boracay and Metro Davao during the first months of 2016 and is currently ongoing in Metro Cebu, where users are noticing the improvements in the LTE service quality.

According to Horn, “we are accelerating our LTE deployment because LTE, an all-IP (internet protocol) network, delivers a superior experience to customers, particularly for data.”

“LTE provides us the right platform to bring high-speed mobile internet throughout the country. LTE facilities, with strengthened transport links, can be quickly upgraded to LTE-advanced (LTE-A), which can provide greater capacity and faster data speeds,” added Horn.

Aside from the service improvements, Smart is aiming to bring affordable LTE handsets to the Philippine market by working closely with the top handset manufacturers. Another part of the program is providing LTE services to 1,551 cities and municipalities across the country by the end of 2018.

IMPROVING THE SMART, TNT AND SUN EXPERIENCE

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Though most of the improvement program is focused on Smart’s LTE service, improvements in the overall quality of service to Smart, TNT, and Sun subscribers throughout the country are being done as well. These improvements include Smart and Sun’s network integration that enabled

These improvements include Smart and Sun’s network integration that enabled Smart install new base stations for 2G, 3G and LTE technologies, improving service for the subscribers of both brands. Another improvement is the availability of the country’s first LTE-A service, which uses “Carrier Aggregation.” Carrier Aggregation is the capability of LTE-A to combine two or more radio frequency bands, deliver bigger bandwidth and faster data speeds to mobile users. LTE-A, which was first deployed in Boracay, will provide peak speeds of more than 100 Mbps to LTE-A capable devices. It will soon be available for Metro Davao, Metro

LTE-A, which was first deployed in Boracay, will provide peak speeds of more than 100 Mbps to LTE-A capable devices. It will soon be available for Metro Davao, Metro Cebu and Metro Manila. “We are also focused on ensuring that our current investments in network facilities will enable us to be ready for 5G when it arrives sometime in 2020,” Horn said.

“We are also focused on ensuring that our current investments in network facilities will enable us to be ready for 5G when it arrives sometime in 2020,” Horn said. According to Manuel V. Pangilinan,

According to Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman and CEO of PLDT and Smart, “this is a key part of our efforts to transform the PLDT and Smart network into the country’s most future-ready data infrastructure delivering a wide range of gigabit digital solutions.”

Source: Smart

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