A few weeks after conducting Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) tests in Metro Manila, Smart Communications subjected the wireless technology to the same trials in Cebu.
In an actual LTE-A testing held recently at Shangri-La Mactan in Cebu during the 10th Asian Carriers Conference (ACC), Speedtest.net yielded results of 132.62 Mbps download and 20.26 Mbps upload speeds.
Smart public affairs head Ramon Isberto told Newsbytes.PH: ?LTE-A surpasses LTE standards, delivering data from 100 megabits per second (mbps) to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps). This is ten times faster than 3G services and more than twice as fast as LTE.?
?Smart is the first Philippine telco and one of a handful of carriers in the world to turn on LTE-A, which is referred to in some countries as 5G technology,? Isberto said.
Patrick Belicena, head of Smart?s wireless network engineering department, said: ?YouTube videos no longer have to buffer with LTE-A and video calls are almost lag-free. But beyond speed, LTE-A?s main feature is its capability to allocate more network resources to users when the need arises.?
Smart started testing LTE-A across the country in August last year, delivering results of more than 100Mbps in Makati City, Boracay, and Davao City.
?Our modernized network, which includes the most extensive and robust transmission infrastructure in the Philippines, enables us to deploy new technologies rapidly and easily, as we have done with 3G and LTE. Our infrastructure is ready for the foreseen onslaught of LTE-A devices and demand for LTE-A services,? said Smart technology head Rolando Pe?a.
PLDT, Smart, and Digital Telecommunications Philippines hosted this year?s ACC, which was attended by about 1,500 delegates from 45 countries. — Marlon Magtira
