Smart cuts radio interference to improve calls, browsing

Wireless giant Smart Communications Inc. has cut by half the radio interference that affects the mobile activities of its subscribers to become the cleanest network in Asia and the Pacific.

Smart has managed to slash 60 percent of passive intermodulation and 65 percent of RAN-generated interference in its network as of January to refine the quality of its phone calls and internet connectivity.

The improvement was attributed to the deployment of Spectrum NET nationwide that enabled it to trim radio interference across its network in 2022.

This allowed Smart to become the mobile operator with the cleanest network in the region based on data from Spectrum Effect, the maker of Spectrum NET.

Smart posted a radio interference severity of below six percent as against the Asia Pacific average of around 11 percent.

The Pangilinan-led telco beat the radio interference severity of above six percent in North America, about nine percent in Latin America and more than 14 percent in the Middle East.

Only wireless operators in Europe were able to outperform the unit of PLDT Inc.

According to Smart, the use of Spectrum NET sped up downlink throughput by 40 percent and contributed 80 percent in throughput gains to the benefit of its customers.

Smart seeks to build up its partnership with Washingtonbased Spectrum Effect by tapping the auto-mitigation capability of Spectrum NET to search and eliminate the remaining sources of radio interference.

Smart network head Eric Santiago said the firm focuses on addressing radio interference because it disrupts the flow of end-to-end calls and the speed of loading the internet.

“Radio frequency interference has a severe impact on our customer’s quality of experience, as it can lead to slower connections and choppy calls. As such, it has been a priority for Smart to take on this challenge head on,” Santiago said.

“Smart has overcome the formidable interference environment in the Philippines, delivering only top-notch experience to our subscribers across the country. Also, this is proof of PLDT Inc. and Smart’s commitment to continue investing in automating our network and making our operations more efficient,” he added.

Smart also said that it is working with the National Telecommunications Commission in stopping the resurgence of external sources of radio interference.

The wireless operator will partner with Spectrum Effect to develop solutions that can remove all kinds of radio interference, including boosters that come from the outside.