Globe, Smart expand LTE coverage to key Philippine cities
Philippine telcos Globe and Smart are battling it out for 4G LTE supremacy, with expanded coverage and the addition of more LTE-capable handsets and devices.
The Philippines is not exactly the fastest when it comes to both wired and mobile data connectivity, being far outpaced by Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan in the region. But mobile carriers are keeping up, with the two major telcos — Globe and Smart — having launched their respective 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) services.
We recently learned that both companies are expanding coverage in key cities. Previously limited to the Makati central business district and select areas in Metro Manila, Globe’s LTE service now covers portions of the following:
Metro Manila cities: Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig, Muntinlupa, and Manila.
Visayas: Cebu City and popular vacation hotspot Boracay Island in Aklan.
Smart has also expanded coverage to the following areas:
Luzon cities: Baguio, Laoag, San Fernando, Cabanatuan, Antipolo, Urdaneta, Olongapo, Tagaytay and Dagupan.
Visayas cities: Cebu, Iloilo, Mandaue and Bacolod.
Mindanao: Davao City
Smart is also offering unlimited and uncapped LTE connectivity until April 30, 2013.
Globe CEO and President Ernest Cu says that Globe wants users to have seamless LTE connectivity. “The Globe LTE coverage lets them freely walk around places they frequent such as malls, offices and the like and still receive our LTE signal seamlessly.”
“We have continued to expand our LTE coverage as we focus on large, contiguous areas, instead of ‘pocket activations”‘and ‘hot spots’ to ensure greater and more stable coverage for customers,” said Globe chief technical advisor Robert Tan, adding that Globe’s LTE service is capable of up to 42 Mbps of mobile broadband speeds.
Meanwhile, Smart Broadband Internet and Data Services Head Lloyd Manaloto says its LTE implementation has outpaced even its earlier 3G deployment “Just a couple of weeks ago we said that LTE has outpaced 3G in terms of initial deployment. The simultaneous introduction of LTE around the country is proof of that and it’s all thanks to the Philippines’ first and only 100 percent super-charged network.” Smart markets itself as having the biggest network in the country.
Both companies are said to be battling for “4G supermacy,” with their latest LTE plan and device offerings.
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