PLDT completes network expansion in Davao

The wireless unit of PLDT Inc. has completed its network expansion and improvement in Metro Davao, resulting in better voice, text messaging as well as mobile internet including LTE (Long Term Evolution) service delivered to customers.

Following the completion of network expansion and improvement in Metro Davao, Smart Communications Inc. said in a statement its field tests showed LTE outdoor coverage in the area now matches the outdoor coverage of 3G service at 98 percent.

Indoor coverage meanwhile, increased six times to 66 percent of Metro Davao from 11 percent.

Average download speeds of Smart’s 3G service went up nearly six times to 6 Mbps, while LTE speeds grew more than four times to over 17 Mbps.

LTE is currently the fastest wireless service commercially available.

“Smart is rolling out the fastest and most powerful LTE network in the country. This is the cutting edge of our efforts to improve internet services in the Philippines,” Joachim Horn, chief technology and information advisor for PLDT and Smart said.

To improve coverage and capacity in Metro Davao, Smart added more LTE and 3G base stations.

Smart also utilized lowband frequencies, specifically the 850 Megahertz (Mhz) and 700 Mhz which provide better indoor coverage, for LTE service.

Horn said data usage on LTE jumped 40 percent as a result of the tripled number of LTE base stations along with the utilization of lower band frequencies.

After Metro Davao, Mario Tamayo, head of network planning for Smart said the firm is now rolling out the same network improvement program in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu as part of the three-year plan to bring high-speed LTE to 95 percent of the country by end-2018.

Apart from network coverage expansion and improvement, Smart is working with leading handset manufacturers to provide more affordable LTE handsets to encourage use of smartphones in the country.