PLDT, Smart unlock the future with new products, innovations

Leading telecom and digital services provider PLDT and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have unveiled a host of new products and innovations to better serve their customers’ growing data, content and connectivity needs for video, gaming, and smart home solutions, on the back of the country’s fastest fixed and wireless networks.

Among these new offers is the new Gigasurf with Video Every Day, which enables customers to enjoy their favorite videos, powered by Smart’s award-winning network.

PLDT has also announced its partnership with tech giant Google in offering the PLDT Home Fibr Google Wifi plans. Google Wifi provides a whole home Wifi network that blankets the entire home with Fibr fast speed.

“These exciting products and innovations will allow our customers to fully enjoy the benefits of the digital age using the world-class network that we have put in place, whether they are at home, or out and about on their smartphones,” said Oscar A. Reyes, Jr., SVP of Consumer Business Market Development for PLDT and Smart.

“We are unlocking the future for our PLDT-Smart customers, who want Wifi coverage for their entire homes, the ability to binge their favorite series on iFlix, catch up on latest vlogs or DIYs on YouTube, or become global esports rockstars,” Reyes added. “On top of that, they also want a rewarding experience, where they know that we care about them and that we are addressing their needs.”

Unlocking the future with video, smart homes

Following the success of the groundbreaking YouTube Every Day offer launched in April, Smart is introducing its new Video Every Day offer, which enables customers to enjoy up to 1 hour of video access daily to YouTube, iFlix, NBA League Pass, iWantTV, and Cignal Play with Gigasurf data packs.

Meanwhile, PLDT has teamed up with Google in offering the new PLDT Home Fibr Google Wifi plans that come with unlimited Fibr and 3 Google Wifi points. “Our new Google Wifi plans will deliver unlimited Fibr Fast Internet to every corner of our customers’ homes,” said PLDT-Smart FVP and Consumer Marketing Head Andrew L. Santos. Existing 100 Mbps and up PLDT Home Fibr customers will also receive free Google Wifi points this month.

Unlocking the future in gaming, smartphones

Following the success of ESGS 2018, the culmination of a series of nationwide esports Road to The Nationals DOTA 2 and Tekken 7 tournaments, PLDT and Smart has reiterated support for the coming ‘golden era of esports in the Philippines’. “With the fastest Fibr connection for gaming at home with PLDT Fibr, and the fastest LTE network for gaming on-the-go with Smart LTE, we affirm our commitment once again to the Filipino Gamer,” Santos said.

Apart from these services, Smart has also announced game-changing partnerships with popular smartphone manufacturers in getting more affordable LTE-capable handsets out in the market. “Our vision is to equip every Filipino with an LTE smartphone, and we are joining forces with our partners from Samsung, Oppo and Starmobile to let more Filipinos enjoy the fastest data connection via Smart LTE,” said Santos.

Smart also introduced new smartphones available with the data-packed Smart Giga X plans – the Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro, and the latest iPhones XS and XS Max. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also available with the Smart Giga X plans.

Smart also kicked off its 25th anniversary celebrations by announcing the biggest e-raffle in the company’s history, where it will raffle off smartphones, data, and MVP rewards points every month. The promo will run from November 2018 to February 2019. Smart will also award a P25-million cash grand prize to one lucky subscriber on Feb. 25, 2019. To join, subscribers need only to register to select data promos and add-ons.

Twin awards for country’s fastest, future-proofed network

Powering all of these innovations and services is the country’s most extensive fiber network. Now at 221,000 kilometers, PLDT’s fiber footprint also supports Smart’s mobile network by providing high-capacity fiber connections for LTE base stations, which are now at 14,300.

Earlier this year, PLDT and Smart were cited for being the country’s fastest fixed and mobile networks for Q1-Q2 2018, respectively, by Ookla®, the global leader in internet testing and analysis. Mobile analytics firm OpenSignal has also cited Smart for having the country’s fastest LTE network, and for providing its customers the best video experience in the country.

Aside from expanding its LTE and LTE-A coverage, PLDT and Smart are also investing in paving the way toward having a ‘5G-ready’ network by 2020. As part of these 5G plans, PLDT, Smart and Clark Development Corp. recently signed an agreement to launch Clark Freeport Zone as the country’s first Smart 5G City, where PLDT and Smart, together with technology partner Ericsson, will fire up the first 5G cell site in November.

Parent company PLDT has committed historic levels of resources for network transformation. For 2018, PLDT capex is expected to reach P58 billion.