Nearly nine out of 10 Filipino and foreign travelers can now experience high-speed internet as Smart Wifi gets deployed in major transport hubs all over the country.
Since July, PLDT and Smart have rolled out carrier-grade Smart Wifi in key airports and sea ports identified by the Department of Transportation in line with the PLDT Group’s commitment to make available to the public internet at world-class speeds for that seamless digital experience.
Apart from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country’s biggest airport, Smart Wifi is now in major airports all over the country. Data from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) showed nearly 63 million foreign and local passengers flew to various Philippine destinations last year.
For those who prefer to travel using the nautical highway, Smart Wifi was also installed in the sea ports of Batangas City and Calapan in Mindoro, which recorded a combined passenger traffic of close to 11 million, according to 2015 data from the Philippine Ports Authority.
Given the reliance of today’s travelers on mobile apps for information and services to make their trips enjoyable and productive, this state-of-the-art communications infrastructure will help boost the country’s tourism industry.
A backhaul capacity of up to 1 gigabit per second allows up to 3,000 concurrent users of Smart Wifi to have a seamless digital experience in checking their social media accounts, email, or keeping connected to home and office while traveling.
“We have deployed carrier-grade Smart Wifi as part of our commitment to have more Filipinos experience super-speed internet on a larger scale. This will enable the public to optimize use of their smartphones and other devices, and at the same time, help us monetize data services in line with the company’s shift from a traditional telco player to a digital services provider,” said Eric R. Alberto, EVP for PLDT/Smart, and president and CEO, ePLDT.
“The rollout of Smart Wifi is a key component of Smart’s three-year network improvement program to boost data connectivity throughout the country. This complements our mobile internet service that we are boosting through the deployment of enhanced LTE and 3G coverage nationwide,” said Kat Luna-Abelarde, FVP and Wireless Consumer Operations Head at Smart.
Ethan, an IT Consultant for a group of companies, was surprised when he did a speed test on Smart Wifi when the service was launched at the Boracay Airport. “I have never seen these speeds. It’s amazing. I can view simultaneously the security cameras of our factories from four different sites without any buffering. I can do a lot of office work and be productive while waiting for my flight.” Both download and upload speeds registered at over 250mbps.
Smart Wifi is also in Davao City’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, Bacolod-Silay International Airport and Iloilo International Airport, Roxas Airport, Zamboanga Airport, Clark International Airport, Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport, Laoag International Airport, General Santos International Airport, Kalibo International Airport, and Puerto Princesa Airport.
In the pipeline are more regional airports, sea ports, and the rail-based MRT, and LRT lines 1 and 2 in Metro Manila.
