Telecoms

Smart explains LTE on iPhone 5

Abe Olandres January 30, 2013 · 2 min read

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Smart held a Q&A session earlier today regarding their LTE roll-out for the iPhone 5. They answered questions regarding the unli plans, data caps, additional charges, area of coverages, subscriptions and SIM provisioning.

What’s free and what’s not?

At the moment, Smart is providing free access to their LTE network to all postpaid subscribers under iPhone 5 Plan 999, iPhone 5 Plan 2499, Unli Data Plan 1500, 2000 and 3000.

This free unli access will last up to April 30, 2013.

What happens after April 30?

No exact details were given. By default, it only means they will stop offering it for free. How much the charges will be after that time has not yet been determined.

Will there be data caps?

Yes, it is stated in their Fair Use Policy. No bandwidth cap was specifically mentioned but based on existing LTE handset plans (Sony Xperia V LTE), it would be 1.5GB/month for Unli Data Plan 1500 and 2.5GB/month for Unli Data Plan 2000.

There was also mention of moderating the use of tethering the iPhone 5 to your laptop.

What if I reached the data cap?

You will be redirected to a page where you can subscribe to additional bandwidth allocations.

What if I bought my open-line iPhone 5 outside of the country?

You can call Smart to get an LTE-provisioned SIM card. Not available to prepaid users and Freedom Plan subscribers.

But I paid for my unlimited and I should use it any way I want!

There’s a provision for that in the Fai Use Policy:

Smart intends to preserve the integrity of the network in order to provide ALL subscribers with high quality mobile data services. Smart reserves the right to suspend or terminate service to customers whose improper or abusive use of mobile browsing may jeopardize our ability to deliver the best customer experience to other subscribers.

Where are the LTE hotspots located?

Here’s a complete and updated list of locations where LTE is available {click here}.

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Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

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116 Comments

Jonjon · 12 years ago

They should instead call it unli 3G with bonus LTE of 1.5 GB. I think NTC should regulate what really the telecoms are advertising about their promos/ services.

Andy · 12 years ago

I have this LTE Unlimited Plan 1500, I asked Smart about it and they said that after consuming 1.5gb of LTE connection it will automatically change to 3G, more like the 3G connection is the unlimited not the LTE. But it’s worth it.

Ron · 12 years ago

yeah I dont get it either. Unli data but with cap. weirdos.

Eric · 13 years ago

@kashei UNLI DATA. If in case you reached 1.5GB of cap then your speed will be downcapped to 128kbps until the next refresh(next month). You still have unlimited data or internet but to the point that it would be so slow 0.128mbps or whatever speed penalty of the network. That is what bandwidth cap means on most telecoms worldwide. The effect is very different on your comparison with your plate :p

Unlike Globe they have SuperSurf which has 800mb of daily bandwidth cap. Once you reach the 800mb everything stops, still connected but no traffic and they did not state that it will be unlimited. Hence, it is just right.

kashei · 13 years ago

i don’t get it.. it is called UNLI DATA.. but only 1.5GB data can be used.. yeah you can eat all you can but only this plate.

TROLOLOL!!!

RK · 13 years ago

@Edwin

Here’s the guide and firmware I used:

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/455586/20130410/galaxynote2-n7105-lte-official-android412-jellybean-xxdmc3.htm

http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/1/?model=GT-N7105&pcode=GLB#firmware

Edwin · 13 years ago

RK, saan mo nakuha ung tutorial :) paemail naman :)

RK · 13 years ago

Haha buti nga gumana na. Muntik na ko mag abandon ship to Xperia Z para magka LTE. :)

Edwin · 13 years ago

Nice :) wala na yung note 2 ko eh ehehe :) Buti naman at gumana na :)

RK · 13 years ago

@Edwin
Finally got LTE to work my Note 2 N7105. Flashed the firmware to the latest one released by Sammobile for N7105 Globe firmware. I’m using an LTE nano-sim with sim adapter.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y255/ramskii/Screenshot_2013-04-21-12-20-49.jpg

nato · 13 years ago

bro, san mo nakuha yung firmware? and pwede rin bang gamitin yun for smart? thanks!

RK · 13 years ago

@nato
I don’t think compatible ang N7105 sa Smart LTE. N7105 doesn’t use the 2100MHz that Smart LTE does. It only has the 1800MHz band.

alvse · 13 years ago

Smart Menu for iPhone 5 is located in SETTINGS > PHONE then scroll down.

Hearth · 13 years ago

Ask koh lng, tlga bang walang smart menu sa iphone 5?!

jmr_85 · 13 years ago

I personally feel LTE signal will be detected regardless of the SIM. LTE is a SIGNAL type. As far as you have a SIM that can access the Smart network for example, it should be able to detect LTE – provided the band of your LTE device is compatible. The issue of accessing LTE though is dependent on your APN and if your SIM can actually make use of the LTE speed.

nato · 13 years ago

I thought LTE signal CAN be detected provided you have an LTE device which can support the band that the telecoms offer. but I was proven wrong, i tried every single “LTE spot” listed in the smart website and still no signal. 1. LTE spot-check! 2. LTE capable device & band -check!….what’s wrong? they say its the sim….and how come smart need to post that Sim cards must be replaced to an LTE provisioned sim? I think APN is important if you need to connect to the LTE data, but the signal itself is another issue. its like having an H signal but it doesnt mean you are already connected right? because if your APN is wrong then you cant connect. that’s why I think. regardless of the APN theoretically, we can detect LTE. but smart says otherwise…

Ericq · 13 years ago

What if after the data cap, i don’t want to use LTE anymore. Can I switch to 3G again?

strano · 13 years ago

ask ko lng kpag ba LTE ung phone di pwede mag internet gamit ang regular sim gaya sa HTC REZOUND di ko ksi magamit internet nya sa simcard tnx

Ryozen · 13 years ago

I’ve never experienced that cap and I’m on my 7th month now of unlidata plan. I never go down below 5gb/month.

pb · 13 years ago

Limited Unlimited Data Plan? Sounds cool. Not. :p

Ealden · 13 years ago

I guess All In subscribers aren’t covered :(

meh · 13 years ago

What about prepaid users? The cap is so small its horrible

Rocky86 · 13 years ago

Hi sir yuga!

Called smart hotline to ask about the LTE provisioned sim for me to access
Smart LTE connection for my iPhone5 bought abroad but apparently they dont have any advisories regarding getting an LTE provisioned sim for non smart provided iphone5. Only those smart provided iphone5s can have access of the free LTE connection until april. I thought we can avail it as well as per your info above?

Thanks!

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 13 years ago

I guess they have not escalated this to their CSR.

loadex · 13 years ago

With that kind of cap.. gusto ng telco, mag-fb, twit, email and maybe youtube kalang sa cellphone natin at LTE speed… and pay more if you want the same speed just in case lumampas ka sa cap.

WhatTheNel · 13 years ago

All telcos are adopting the Fair Use Policy (including Globe). In case this is not included in their T&C,(if you are reading the T&C)then this is a transparency issue on their end. I checked my resources and yes Globe has the same policy. You may check http://www.globe.com.ph/aup for more details.

nato · 13 years ago

sir yuga, how about postpaid plan pero gagamitin sa LTE version ng galaxy note 2? pwede rin kaya sa LTE?

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 13 years ago

yes puede, just need to get a new lte-provisioned im

Enya · 13 years ago

^really? Wonder if all these N7105s are compatible with Smart’s LTE

nato · 13 years ago

i think n7105 covers all bands that smart LTE supports.

Edwin · 13 years ago

Hi :) meron akong note 2 lte and sinalpak ko ung lte sim ko na globe and smart. Hindi gumagana ang phone nato sa lte natin. It’s n7105 from Hk na supports all the bands sa pinas.

Pag lte sim na globe, mag NO NO SERVICE xa pero makakatawag at txt ka. There’s no way din na maaccess mo ang Mobile Network. Sasabihin nya na please insert sim card :)

Pag SMART, h+ lang. Walang LTE kahit LTE sim un lalagay mo :) so, sa tingin ko. Wais ang smart. Meron silang tweak na ginagawa sa fones nila para mismong fones lang nila gagana ang LTE nila :)

BUSINESS INDEED HAHAHA :)

RK · 13 years ago

Hi Edwin,

I’m also planning to buy a Note 2 N7105.
Have you tried changing the APN of the phone for LTE settings? I’m not sure if there’s another APN setting for both networks.

Edwin · 13 years ago

Yup. Sinunod ko un APN sa Xperia V KO… Pero no go. Un globe naman same APN LANG :) ang APN kasi sa smart eh SMARTLTE :) pero wala pa din… So better if you’ll buy iphone 5 or Xperia V

RK · 13 years ago

Aww. That’s sad news. I was planning to purchase a high-end android device to be used for LTE.

nato · 13 years ago

sir edwin:

have you tried comparing both on the same LTE hotspot listed on smart’s website? like putting the sim to xperia v and knowing there’s LTE then putting it to the note 2 and still no signal? hmm… baka naman kailangan stock rom ng n7105? may option dun sa settings> wireless & network> more settings> mobile networks> network mode> LTE.
kainis balak ko pa naman sana magupgrade ng smart plan para lang maka LTE kasi di daw pwede sa freedom plan e. thanks!

Edwin · 13 years ago

Hi Nato and RK… Yep! :) Sa house ko meron LTE, at sa office din meron.. Full bars ang LTE ko sa Xperia V pag nasa Office. Tried inserting the sim to my Note 2 N7105 – pero wala talaga… H+ lang… saka naka LTE/WCDMA/GSM xa… no option for LTE only… Better get an Xperia V or iPhone 5. I think my ginagawa ang smart para sa mismong Xperia V lang nila gagana ung LTE nila… Sucks indeed! haha

nato · 13 years ago

Damn smart! kaya nga di ako kumuha ng unlidata plan nila kahit may libreng note 2 is because di pa LTE capable ang note 2 na inooffer nila, same goes with globe, kaya bumili ako ng LTE capable sa labas and got the freedom plan. kainis, di pwede sa freedom plan, di pwede sa note 2 LTE, ayaw ko naman ng iphone! hay! …kanila na lang LTE nila! … hmmm… mag LTE na lang ako na pocket wifi add 2k na lang tapos mas mataas pa cap tapos sampal ko sa kanila yung note 2 ko na LTE hahahaha! … thanks sir edwin!

Edwin · 13 years ago

Hehe :) no problem… wag mo na ako i Sir lol :) basta about gadgets, present ako hehe :) add na alng sa FB if like nyo lol :)

http://www.facebook.com/edwin.nacino?ref=tn_tnmn

Night

RK · 13 years ago

Thanks Edwin for the info. :)

RK · 13 years ago

Hi Edwin,

Have you tried changing the band preferences in your Note 2 LTE?

Just like as shown in this link:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1950442&page=7

The command is *#197328640#

Maybe the band is not set in the right frequency?

Edwin · 13 years ago

Yep.. Nawawalan ng signla pag pinapalitan ko ung band… :)

Nakalaay sa UMTS, LTE Preferences, band 3, 7, 8, and 20…. band 3 lng ung supported ng globe and smart for this hanset pro wala eh hehe

RK · 13 years ago

Aww. I still plan to buy the Note 2 LTE N7105 dahil meron DC-HSPA+. May selected areas daw si Globe na meron DC-HSPA+ like sa Makati. Hopefully once meron na si Note 2 LTE si Globe, may maayos na LTE Microsim na sila ilabas.

emignatius · 13 years ago

Sir yuga, what is the 5GB cap they are saying in Philstar for the LTE plan?

http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/01/23/899952/smart-cap-wireless-lte-plan

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 13 years ago

I think that’s for the USB Dongle na LTE, not the handset LTE plan.

psikick · 13 years ago

that “Fair Use Policy” provision is mostly bull.
http://voltmagonline.com/former-fcc-chairman-admits-data-caps-arent-about-preventing-network-congestion/

lolwut · 13 years ago

smart has got the most f*cked up plan in all the providers.. unli plan then 1.5gb data cap is the most stupid thing I heard today… good thing im on globe… there are no fine prints like this… and what’s even worse is that DOTC and DTI doesn’t do anything about this stupid policies of Smart…

lolnoob · 13 years ago

pa fckd up fckd up ka pa jan. basa basa muna terms and conditions ng globe mo para di ka mapahiya

lolwut · 13 years ago

I know Globe because I am on Globe, wala silang cap sa unli data nila for my phone. Although I wish their signal will be more consistent as far as service is concerned I am satisfied. Inggitero much?

Tracy · 13 years ago

ask nyo muna ang mga SMART subs before u make reactions. Bka pag na try nyo services ni SMART, youll realize how GLOBE sucks… Peace! :)

Pat · 13 years ago

Pathetic!

Tae · 13 years ago

So sa unlimited data plan ng Smart limited ka sa 50MB per day.

Anu-ano nga ba ang pwedeng gawin sa 50MB/day?

parang kahit sa email at web browsing kulang yan diba?

Messie · 13 years ago

The LTE map for SMART looks useful though. I hope Globe release a similar map for it’s LTE coverage.

meme · 13 years ago

I had the privilege of working with Globe for a project and heard from one employees that their is a project to create a map for all their coverage. This was months ago although I’m not sure if this will be available publicly

Messie · 13 years ago

Not that I care since I’m on Globe, but did I just read that right? 1.5gb per month and 2.5gb per month data cap? My daily usage is more than that.

arvinparedes · 13 years ago

haha yeah. its like buying a ferrari that runs on 1 liter fuel tank. ugh.

meme · 13 years ago

same goes for me.. don’t say it’s unlimited when you cap the thing. that’s just stupid in anyway you look at it. i’ve been on globe for years and like Messie, have exceeded this 2.5GB cap in a day and still can get online. kaya naman kahit mejo nagloko ang network ng Globe I’ve been patient just because when they say it’s unlimited, it is unlimited :)