With the purchase of PLDT/Smart of CURE, the company now has a wider band for its 3G network. With the largest spectrum of 15MHz, Smart already uses the 1920-1935MHz and the 2010-2025MHz band. The additional frequencies from CURE would practically double its capacity and pave the way for higher 3G speeds.
According to the disclosure notice sent by PLDT to the SEC, Smart’s acquisition of CURE will allow it to expand its 3G networks:
The acquisition dovetails with Smart’s previously announced plan to provide expanded and enhanced 3G services nationwide, including higher speed wireless broadband services. CURE is envisioned to provide Smart with a platform to offer and provide differentiated 3G services for niche markets.
That statement, coupled with a cryptic information given to me by a Smart rep about their 3G upgrade in the next quarter led me to believe that they may be on the way to upgrading the bandwidth for HSDPA connections from the existing 1.8Mbps to at least 3.6Mbps but could reach up to 7.2Mbps.
I was told this network upgrade will be officially announced as soon as it’s been put in place. The additional 10MHz of frequency in the 2100Mhz band from CURE will effectively increases Smart’s 3G capacity by 67% so the upgrade to 3.6Mbps is the likely scenario.
This might mean faster 3G connections and wider 3G coverage so people in far-flung areas of the Philippines will not have to settle with GPRS/EDGE speeds anymore. Hopefully.
P.S. Also check out our story on “How Smart saved CURE from losing its 3G license” over at PTB.
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This could be great news… Huwag sana nilang maoverlook ang Bataan. Our province has now a much higher demand for better connectivity than ever before. One of the main thrusts in Bataan right now is I.T. development…
Check out bataan.gov and see for yourselves guys…
I have been using internet mobile service with smart. I have an N70 thats supposed to have 3G capabilities. To my dismay, the hype is more than the delivery as far as response to surfing is concerned. When peak hours between 9-12pm and 3-6pm happens, there is absolute no way you can get decent surfing. I do not know if Smart needs to tweak something on my phone or anything. Its Just that the service on the internet during these hours are simply atrocious. I don’t really feel any 3G experience that can be so Earth Shattering with the service Delivery I get from smart at this time.
smart is great.. for only 10 php i can surf the net for 30 mins using my phone.. the connection is merely fast.
ei totoy can u please help me how to connect internet thru using my n90.. what are the steps??thank you..asap
with regards to Sleep Heavy’s comment, please check the specs of your mobile phone (Nokia N70), if you can browse Nokia’s website, the N70 phone only provide a maximum broadband speed of 128kbps/384kbps, so in that case, you won’t experience the real 3G of Smart, but if you have another mobile phone, say Nokia N92, which offers 384kbps/384kbps, then you can appreciate 3G efficiently..
sleep heavy, try downloading opera mini from wap.Getjar.Com, for a very fast and free internet! Im using it instead of my default browser and i am online 24/7 for free on my nokia 3230
Hi meron ba gumagamit ng smart bro from bulacan malolos or bulacan bulacan area?tnx
I’d say Smart Bro / Smart Mobile Internet works well in HSDPA / 3.5G areas. The problem is that a number of outdoor cellsites of Smart are “down.” Until when will they be down???
I’d say that you can hit at 1-2 mbps inside malls wherein the cellsites of Smart are 3.5G/HSDPA ready. I have tested the following malls/buildings:
1. Galleria – 3.5G signal – average of 1.1-1.6 mbps; max 2.1 mbps
2. Shangrila – 3.5G signal – average of 850 – 1.2 mbps; max 1.4 mbps
3. SM Megamall – 3.5G signal – average of 1.2-1.7 mbps; max 1.9 mbps
4. Gateway – 3.5G signal – average of 1.1-1.5 mbps; max 1.9 mbps
5. Sta. Lucia – 3G signal – average 280-350kbps; max 380 kbps
6. Riverbanks Mall Marikina – 3.5G signal – average of 1.1-1.7mbps; max 1.8 mbps
7. SM North The Block – 3.5G signal – average 1.3-2.0 mbps; max 2.6mbps = the fastest ever due to new indoor cellsite type
Smart has to upgrade some indoor cellsites. Some are still using the old 2G cellsites like in Shangrila. Also, they should make sure the cellsites exposed and not hidden.
//mga tol,
maximum n speed n n experience ko 2.40 mbps using smart bro prepaid & hsdpa signal
d2 s amin sa camarin caloocan
(mlapit n kami sa border ng bulacan), wla hsdpa sa labas , but i can get indoor signal by placing my modem near pldt landline. super bilis
kelangan nga lng modify nyo ung setting
gwing nyo wcdma 850MHZ ung band nya kci iun ung band ng hsdpa ng smart .
thks..
effective nga
happy happy me na
hehehe…….
//mga tol
im here in camarin caloocan(near bulacan)
but i can get hsdpa signal by placing my modem near pldt landline.
naxperince ko maximum speed n 2.4mbps using my smart bro prepaid & hsdpa signal.
modify nyo nga lng setting pra mg work
ung sa tools/network/
select nyo sa band n wcdma 850MHZ
iun kci ung band ng smart hsdpa
super bilis
i can download 700 mb of data in less than an hour
compare mo nman sa smart bro plan 999 na 384kbps
300 mb of data in 1 1/2 hour.
Hi Michael,
I think you are right. The bandwidth used must be 850MHZ. Even without the landline, speeds are great. I live in Marikina and I had been bugging Smart Bro CS because of their “Switching Signals” – 3G and HSDPA switching every second. It’s so annoying since whenever the switch occurs, speed is slower than dial-up.
Thanks to your post, I can now enjoy consistent HSDPA at home.
the two above me are right.
i can now enjoy fast internet service for only Php10 for 30 minutes,instead of renting computer use outside, dito nalng ako sa loob ng bahay.
thanks michael and driftracer85
your posts helps a lot.
OMG… i thought CURE will stand on its own as a internet provider.. now that smart bought CURE, the hope of lowering the browsing rates because of competition is doooooommmeddddd…
masyadong mataas ang internet rates nila…
imagine, 30mis=php10.00
an average og 2 hrs a day would cost you php60.00
(averaging for smart bro is also 3hrs per day.)
and for tho whole month
ten te ne nen te nen….
NAGBABAGANG php 1200.00
mas mahal pa sa smart bro…
sana wag nman mxado ganid ang smart.. REMEMBER, GREED ang nagpabagsak sa economiya ng amerika… they shoul have lowered their charges… if they continue at bumagsak sila, bibigyan ko sila ng malaking
BELAT…
Well, I’m not really a cellphone savy although I consider myself computer freak. Anyway, I have a question and I hope that people here might be able to help me answer my question regarding HSPA.
Today, I came by a Smart Wireless Center and I inquired about their new Share It Unlimited promo (unlimited internet using a SmartBro router, up to 2Mbps of speed, powered by HSPA). My question is, I’m not sure if we have HSPA in our area (Concepcion, Marikina, near Tumana area). And if we do, is the connection speed good enough for us to get of up to 2Mbps of internet speed? I have no 3G phone and I have no plan of getting one, and I do not know of anyone in our area that uses a 3G phone. What should I do? And another thing, the guy above mentioned that he can maximize his internet speed by placing his modem next to his PLDT landline phone. WE DO NOT HAVE A LANDLINE PHONE. I do not know how to check if we have HSPA here.
You may email me at ask.wencelangeles@gmail.com.
anybody has experience with joikuspot or wmwifirouter? can skype work on laptop hookup on joikuspot or wmwifirouter or is it blocked by smart or any other providers??
bkit po ganun???pinabilis po ba ang smart bro prepaid??….eh..pag ginagamit q ang 3G, ang bagal po….kaya GPRS prin aq hanggang ngaun…may paraan po ba para mapablis q ang connection q??? alaminos, laguna lng nmn po itong lugar nmin….bakit mahina ang 3G d2??help plssss!!..thx!