Smart launches 5G roaming services in US

PLDT Inc.’s wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. has launched its 5G roaming services in the US with AT&T, expanding its 5G roaming presence in 16 countries.

Alice Ramos, vice president and head of roaming and consumer business at Smart, said the company is the first Philippine operator to launch a complete roaming pack for prepaid customers in the US.

“The US is among the top destinations of tourists and migrant Filipinos and this partnership with AT&T propels us forward in our goal to bring our world-class 5G roaming services to them,” Ramos said.

Smart’s partnership with AT&T, the leading mobile services provider in the US, enables customers to access 5G roaming services using their Smart 5G-ready SIM and 5G-capable device.

Prepaid customers can also subscribe to Smart’s GigaRoam USA Plus for prepaid, the only roaming all-in plan for data, calls, and SMS.

The data pack comes with three GB data roaming access, 30 roaming calls, and 30 roaming texts to the Philippine and the US.

Smart, so far, has 22 international partners in 16 countries for its 5G roaming services.

The company has also teamed up with True in Thailand, Sunrise in Switzerland, SmarTone and Hong Kong Telecommunications in Hong Kong, Pelephone in Israel, Turkcell in Turkey, Ooredoo and STC in Kuwait, StarHub in Singapore, NTT Docomo in Japan, Vodafone in Australia, Zain Kuwait, Zain Saudi Arabia, and Zain Bahrain, China Mobile and China Unicom in China, Etisalat and du in United Arab Emirates, FarEasTone and T-Star in Taiwan, and KT Corp. in South Korea.

In the country, Smart is at the forefront of the 5G revolution with more than 2,600 Smart 5G sites fired up in strategic locations nationwide.

Smart has also ramped up its 5G outdoor coverage in NCR to more than 90 percent.

PLDT chief revenue officer and Smart president and CEO Alfredo Panlilio said the company aims to end the year with over 4,000 5G sites.