Smart granted more frequencies for wireless broadband service
by Lenie Lectura, BusinessMirror | 11/03/2009 12:59 AM
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MANILA - Smart Communications Inc.’s long wait for it to be awarded frequencies in the 2.5 to 2.7-gigahertz (GHz) bandwidth is finally over.
The cellular firm is going to hold an initial launch of the service this week, said Smart chief wireless advisor Orlando Vea in an interview. The frequencies are said to be crucial for the company’s planned deployment of its WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) service.
“We will have an initial launch of WiMax by next week. We have enough frequency for the moment to launch the service,” the Smart official said.
Sources at the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said the cellular firm was awarded 20 megahertz (MHz) of frequency in the 2 GHz spectrum. Smart’s original application in 2006 was for the grant of 30 MHz, according to the sources.
The approval of Smart’s frequency bid paved the way for the cellular firm to push through with its WiMax service offering, touted to be the next-generation mobile technology after 3G (third generation).
WiMax is a telecommunications technology aimed at providing wireless data over long distances in a variety of ways, from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular-type access. Among the basic services include broadband Internet, voice over Internet protocol, text messaging and electronic messaging.
Interactive broadcasting services and web applications can also be accessed through WiMax. Interactive broadcasting services include broadcasting portal, browser, shopping, multimedia service, e-mail, among others.
Other phone firms, including rival Globe Telecom Inc., have started offering WiMax services while others are waiting for the approval of their applications from the NTC.
The sources said Smart now has a total of 50 Mhz of frequency which can be used for WiMax service. The other 30 MHz is situated in the 2.3-Ghz spectrum. “Smart may apply for more. It has signified interest that it will do so because it needs more frequencies to strengthen its hold in the broadband arena,” they said.
Smart offers wireless broadband service through unit Smart Broadband Inc. (SBI) under the brand SmartBro.
“The prompt approval of the NTC of this request is indispensible for SBI to successfully offer WiMax services especially where alternative DSL (digital subscriber line) solutions are either not available or not economically viable to deploy. Thus, Internet access shall become accessible not only in urban areas, but more importantly, in rural areas because WiMax provides wireless data over long distances,” SBI’s application filed with the NTC stated.
Without the frequencies, SBI said it cannot fully maximize service offerings and provide optimum support to the government’s policies and objectives to make Internet accessible and ubiquitous, especially to schools and other learning institutions in the remotest areas of the country, due to this limitation.
“The grant of the frequency band and permit will revolutionize the way people communicate as it will allow them to stay connected with voice, data and video services seamlessly,” it added.
SBI continued to expand as its wireless broadband subscriber base grew 26 percent to reach 689,000 as at end-June 2009, of which 261,000 are on SmartBro’s prepaid service while 428,000 are postpaid subscribers. Smart Bro is today’s most widely available broadband service provider in the country.
“We may hit over a million SmartBro subscribers this year,” added Vea.
Wireless broadband revenues grew 30 percent to P2.6 billion, a significant improvement over the P2 billion recorded in the first half of 2008.
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