More Filipinos will get to experience the latest tech in mobile internet services as a Philippine telecommunications service provider will put up a 5G Experiential Zone to showcase the power of a 5G connection. 5G is the latest wireless internet connectivity that promises faster speeds, higher bandwidth, and more stable internet connections. This is the first in a series of caravans in the country.
The telco is at the forefront of the 5G revolution in the Philippines with the continued nationwide roll-out of its “ultrafast” 5G network, which includes strategic sites in Metro Manila, Boracay, Cavite, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Laguna, New Clark City in Pampanga and Rizal.
Subscribers of the telco can also upgrade their SIM cards for free and participate in activities such as the VR experience powered by the 5G tech. Dubbed as the latest evolution of wireless communications, 5G offers advanced data speeds and low latency. Subscribers of the 5G tech will benefit from the speeds for uploading and downloading large files in seconds, streaming high-resolution videos seamlessly, and playing online games without noticeable lag.
In line with the national mission to provide citizens with up-to-date mobile internet connection and services, another telecommunications service provider in the country announced its plans to also expand its 5G network to cover 80% of the nation’s capital by yearend.
The telco’s Chief Technology and Information Officer said that they are in the two-thirds range right now. To complement this, they have also begun to roll out in six key cities in Visayas and Mindanao as part of the overall change they are making to bring 5G to more places and customers in the country. He added that its 5G network is now available in 17 cities across the country which includes several cities in the National Capital Region for Luzon; Bacolod, Boracay, Iloilo, Talisay, Lapu-Lapu, Cordova, Minglanilla, and Cebu City for the Visayas; and Davao City and Cagayan de Oro for Mindanao.
The Telco’s 5G rollout is part of the company’s three-pronged strategy for network upgrades and expansion—aggressive cell site builds, upgrading cell sites to 4G/LTE using many different frequencies, and fast-tracking its fibre network rollout for home broadband users. The company is committed to champion the 10 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG)—especially UNSDG no. 9 which recognises the importance of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development.
In addition, the telco also inked a partnership with an international network tech provider to further aid their efforts. Under the terms of the agreement, the tech company will provide equipment and services from its comprehensive 5G portfolio to build out the Radio Access Network (RAN), including base stations and other radio access products. The Telco will also use the company’s high capacity “AirScale” Adaptive Antenna solution, which utilises the latest 64TR radios, to boost coverage and performance.
Using the new 3.5GHz spectrum band for dense urban coverage, The Telco will be able to provide end-users with high peak speeds typical on a 5G network. The deal will also see the expansion of the existing FDD/TDD LTE network infrastructure. These solutions will enable them to roll out 5G services across the two major islands of the country and offer customers superior speeds, capacity, and lower latencies while reducing complexity.
In perspective, as reported by OpenGov Asia, the country is now in 6th place in mobile internet speed among the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) according to a report from a global speed test. Globally, the country moves up to the 86th spot in the mobile internet speed rankings in January 2021. This is a marked improvement from its 111th rank in the same period last year.
