Smart Communications

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Smart Communications, Inc.
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryCommunications services
Remittance
PredecessorsSun Cellular (prepaid services only)
FoundedManila, Philippines (1991)
Headquarters
Smart Tower, 6799 Ayala Avenue, Makati
,
Philippines
Area served
Philippines
Key people
Manuel V. Pangilinan
(Chairman)
Alfredo S. Panlilio
(President, CEO and CRO)[1]
ProductsCellular telephony
ServicesBroadband services
Digital platform services
ParentPLDT
DivisionsDigital Telecommunications Philippines
Sun Cellular
Websitesmart.com.ph
Smart Communications retail store in a mall.

Smart Communications, Inc., commonly referred to as Smart, is a wholly owned wireless communications and digital services subsidiary of PLDT, Inc.,[2] a telecommunications and digital services provider based in the Philippines.[3] The company has 73 million mobile subscribers as of 2020, under the brands Smart, Sun, and TNT. Smart's wireless broadband subscribers number 3.8 million under the brands Smart Bro and Sun Wireless Broadband.[4]

Smart offers commercial wireless services through its 2G, 3G, 3.5G HSPA+, 4G LTE, and LTE-A networks, with 5G currently being deployed in multiple locations in the Philippines.[5][6] Smart's terrestrial wireless telephony service is being complemented by its satellite communication services Smart Sat and Marino which also serve the global maritime industry.

The company has introduced wireless offerings such as Smart Money,[7] a mobile electronic wallet that also enables its SMS-based money remittance service Smart Padala. It has also been recognized for introducing the world's first over-the-air electronic prepaid loading service called Smart Load.[8] One of its services,[9] PasaLoad, allows its users to pass phone credits to other Smart prepaid accounts through SMS.

History[]

Smart logo (2011–2016)

Early history[]

Anticipating the liberalization of the telecommunications industry in the Philippines a group of Filipino investors led by Orlando B. Vea and David T. Fernando organized Smart (then named Smart Information Technology, Inc.) on January 24, 1991.

The company obtained its congressional franchise in April 1992 and was granted a provisional authority to operate a mobile cellular service in May 1993. In December 1993, Smart commenced commercial operations of its cellular service. By then, Smart had drawn in partners. These were: First Pacific, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate through its Philippine flagship Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone of Japan (NTT).

In compliance with the government's telecommunications program, Smart established a local exchange service in the cities and provinces assigned to it under the "service area scheme." The company also obtained licenses to provide international gateway, paging and inter-carrier transmission services.[10]

2000s[]

On March 24, 2000, PLDT completed its share-swap acquisition of Smart, making Smart a 100%-owned PLDT subsidiary.

2010s[]

In February 2011,[11] Smart unveiled the Netphone, its own line of Android-compliant smartphones designed for emerging markets at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The Netphone was introduced as the world's first smartphone backed by an operator-managed platform.

On August 25, 2012,[12] Smart launched the Philippines' first 4G mobile broadband commercial service running on LTE technology. On April 13, 2016,[13] Smart introduced the first commercial LTE-A Service in Boracay, Aklan.

On June 13, 2016, Smart and its parent company PLDT unveiled their new logos and identity as part of the company's continuing digital pivot.[14]

In February 2017,[15] Smart and parent company PLDT signed a memorandum of understanding with China-based Huawei Technologies "to shape the strategic and commercial development of the 5G ecosystem in the Philippines".

On April 21, 2017, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 10926 which renewed Smart's license for another 25 years. The law granted Smart a franchise to establish, maintain, lease and operate integrated telecommunications/computer/eletronics, and stations throughout the Philippines.[16][17]

In October 2018, petitioners asked the Supreme Court to stop Globe and Smart from using the 700 MHz[18] and Smart announced that they were working to fix its slow internet service.[19]

2020s[]

On July 30, 2020, Smart activated their 5G mobile network initially in Makati Central Business District, Bonifacio Global City CBD, Araneta City, SM Megamall and Mall of Asia Bay Area.[20]

Radio frequency summary[]

Frequencies used by Smart Communication
Frequency Protocol Network Band Number Duplex Mode Common Name
850 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G 5 FDD CLR
900 MHz 8 E-GSM
1800 MHz 3 DCS
850 MHz UMTS/HSDPA/HSPA+ 3G 5 FDD CLR
900 MHz 8 E-GSM
2100 MHz 1 IMT
700 MHz LTE/LTE-A/LTE-A Pro 4G 28 FDD APT
850 MHz 5 CLR
1800 MHz 3 DCS
2100 MHz 1 IMT
2300 MHz 40 TDD S-Band
2500 MHz 41 BRS
2600 MHz 7 FDD IMT-E
3400 MHz 42 TDD CBRS
3500 MHz NR 5G n78 TDD C-Band

Esports[]

Smart and its parent company PLDT launched Omega esports, a professional esports team for Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Tekken 7 that competed in the 2019 The Nationals.[21][22][23] It is also a major sponsor of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports events in the Philippines such as the previous MSC 2019.[24]

Sports teams[]

Sponsorships[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Management Committee - Smart Communications". Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Sullivan, Nicholas P. (2007). You Can Hear Me Now: How Microloans and Cell Phones are Connecting the World's Poor To the Global Economy. . p. 123. ISBN 9780787994631.
  3. ^ "About PLDT - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company". pldt.com. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  4. ^ "Financial Highlights Q1 2020" (PDF).
  5. ^ Marasigan, Lorenz S. "Smart-PLDT, Huawei partner to research, develop 5G in PHL | BusinessMirror". www.businessmirror.com.ph. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  6. ^ Mercurio, Richmond. "Smart gears up for enhanced 5G coverage". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "SMART Money | SMART Padala". smartpadala.ph. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  8. ^ Reyes, Mary Ann Ll. "Smart captures 2 major int'l awards". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  9. ^ "Innovations and Awards - Smart Communications". smart.com.ph. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  10. ^ "About Smart Communication". elitefavors.net. June 14, 2010. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  11. ^ "The Netphone - Smart Communications". smart.com.ph. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  12. ^ "Smart launches the Philippines' first commercial LTE service on August 25". smart.com.ph. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  13. ^ "Smart starts deployment of LTE-Advanced mobile service". smart.com.ph. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  14. ^ "PLDT, Smart unveil new logo in line with 'digital pivot'". PLDT. June 13, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  15. ^ "PLDT-Smart, Huawei seal 5G partnership". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  16. ^ "Republic Act No. 10926". April 21, 2017.
  17. ^ "Smart Communications Inc.'s franchise extended for 25 years under R.A. 10926". PLDT. May 5, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  18. ^ "SC asked to stop Globe, Smart's use of 700 MHz frequency". Rappler.
  19. ^ Gonzales, Cathrine. "Smart network announces slow internet services". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  20. ^ "Smart 5G goes live". smart.com.ph. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  21. ^ "PLDT, Smart launch pro gaming team 'Omega' for country's first franchise-based esports league". Philippine Daily Inquirer. February 17, 2019.
  22. ^ "Pro gaming team 'Omega' of PLDT, Smart launched". BusinessWorld. February 18, 2019.
  23. ^ "PLDT, Smart launch pro gaming team 'Omega' for country's first franchise-based esports league". The Philippine Star. February 18, 2019.
  24. ^ Roslan, Firdaus (May 27, 2019). "MSC 2019 Will Take Place in the Philippines!". eGG.

External links[]

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