Press Release
Smart brings LTE to Mindanao
[15 March 2012] It made waves in Boracay, broke records in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, and took Baguio's Panagbenga festival to new heights. This weekend, the next generation of high-speed mobile broadband will make its official debut in Mindanao as wireless services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) fires up the first Long Term Evolution (LTE) hotspot in Davao City.
Dubbed as the fastest fourth generation (4G) mobile technology, LTE is considered by telcos all over the world as the future of wireless Internet access. It is capable of speeds of over 100Mbps or roughly 50 times faster than current standard wireless technologies.
“We are very proud to introduce to the great city of Davao this great technology," said Smart Chief Wireless Advisor Orlando B. Vea. "This marks a significant milestone in our effort to bring the power of the Internet into the hands of even more Filipinos," he added.
Bringing Araw ng Dabaw to the world
Similar to LTE's introduction in Cebu City during this year’s Sinulog festival, LTE will power the live video streaming of the Araw ng Dabaw festivities, in cooperation with Sun.Star Davao and Sun.Star News Exchange (Sunnex).
The live video streaming will be made available on Sun.Star Davao's microsite at specials.sunstar.com.ph/arawngdabaw.
Unlike regular wired and wireless Internet connections, LTE is ideal for uploading and broadcasting high-definition videos on the Web. LTE gives content providers such as videographers and their crew added mobility as it allows for instant, high-speed uploads on site.
"You don’t even have to be a Smart subscriber to be able to enjoy the benefits of LTE," said Vea. "By broadcasting Araw ng Dabaw online in super speed, Filipinos both here and abroad can get to enjoy, and in a way, partake with the many goings-on during the festival," said Vea.
LTE early adopters
Smart LTE is currently undergoing a rigorous test, with hundreds of participants nationwide.
Several high traffic areas around the country have been designated as LTE hotspots to enable testers to try out the service. These sites include areas around Italianni’s in Greenbelt 2, McDonald’s Greenbelt 1, and the Ayala Museum Café in Makati City.
Also included are Fully Booked in Katipunan Avenue, Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City, and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila.
Smart has also added to the list Mango Avenue, Cebu Raffles Hotel, and Fuente Osmeña in Cebu City, the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) in Camarines Sur, Aria D’Mall in Boracay, and Session Road in Baguio City.
For more information on Smart LTE, visit www.smart.com.ph/bro/lte.
