Now this is pretty interesting — Smart is set to roll out their LTE network (50-70Mbps) and HSPA+ (up to 27.8Mps) in Metro Manila this May.
Last April, Smart demoed their LTE network to the public. This month, they’re rolling it within Metro Manila.
LTE can do speeds between 50-70Mbps while HSPA+ can do 27.8Mbps. Not sure if Smart will also offer those same speeds to subscribers.
We’ll have to wait and see how much these plans and data packages would cost.
oh my god… LTE in a 3rd world country! Smart has been killing the norm in the past huh…. sumasabay ang smart sa Verizon at T-mobile at AT&T ng america ha! sosyal. iniiba na ng smart ang nakagawian. thank you
Why are we always complaining this is an improvement in speed crying-out-loud.
I had the chance to talk to one of the senior engineer of SMART when I went to their office last week and he said that LTE and HSPA+ are now being deployed and tested so sooner these pack will be available to 3rd end.
On the bandwidth cap, he said that SMART will not enforce a cap on LTE but he’s not sure on this one.
Also these speeds will be compressed so that more consumers will be able to be supplied.
I also heard this. Hoping it’s true!
But from what i know, Globe’s capping is way worse than Smart. Not verified as fact though.
Such a shame that Sun is now owned by SMART…
two things.
1. MIR = Max Info Rate
2. CIR = Committed Info Rate
the 2mbps that telcos publish is a max info rate. usually the unpublished CIR is much much lower (i.e. 56kbps).
this means that your are really getting what you are paying for. i.e. 999 for 2mbps MIR.
if you want a higher CIR, you can actually request for that, but w/ a premium.
Was this the reason that smart got temperamental in the past few days?
baka naman 50 Mbps shared sa isang segment ng network hahahaha, drawing naman yang smart as always, hay kailan kaya tayo mamartsa sa may makati tapos magwawala sa headquarters nila? hahaha
I doubt that Smart would give such incredible speeds (27.8Mbs and 50-70Mbps) to us mere mortals. In speed tests done in Boracay, Smart’s LTE only got 15Mbps. That already fast though but how about the price? How expensive? With such speed would they offer it on prepaid? Would it be “UNLIMITED”? Does it going to have a broadband cap? It raises too many questions….
why smart why??? you’re now introducing new speed but you can’t improve your current system.
grrrr….
-smart bro subscriber for 6 years. (no choice)
I am really frustrated with Smart (and Globe as well). Why don’t they just improve the existing facilities they have instead of rolling out these ambitious technologies. They could not deliver their promises with relatively lower internet technologies what more with this 4G? I would be more than happy if I could surf the internet with 1mpbs speed CONSITENTLY than having a 50mbps outburst speed in 50 seconds.
As the terms imply, it’s a Long Term Evolution that should happen in 4Gazillion years.
The speed they are showing up is for testing only and when available for subscription you will be given around 1mbps…SMART ey?
what’s the use of 50mbps when they cap the speed.
i used to have a consumable plan. and when i connect my cp to my pc. i can have 3.5 speed but soon, they’ll cut me off and i get poor connection..
go read some tech blogs, even in the U.S., sa Verizon LTE network, average speed is only 6 mbps. malayo sa 50 to 100 mbps na target ng Smart. hehehe
Let’s look on the bright side shall we,
At least LTE has finally reached our shores, this can only mean others will follow suit in the wireless industry (well hopefully)
No service provider is perfect. I’ve read articles and have talked to people in the US regarding their wireless service and they say that 4G there is technically non-existent. Well, that’s what my cousin says, that 4G is basically 3G over there.
IF SMART pulls this off, it’s gonna start to suck being a Globe user with an iPhone 4. not that I am LOL
Globe is working on their own HSPA+ another 4G Technology.
Most of the uses for this LTE technologies in the Philippines are more into mobile broadband and no available LTE phones yet in this country.
But isn’t it the only candidate system for the 4G specification so far is only LTE Advanced? The others are still <3.9 marketed as 4G?
HSPA+ isn’t 4G. you can google it and you’ll see how different they are.
Don’t worry about it. iPhone 4 is not even capable of 4G.
I’m not sure if Philippines’ telcos were honest in their marketing claims. They promised super fast internet, but those were just peak numbers. The actual scenario is that their wireless signal/connection is unstable.
Their 3G service here in Cebu does reach 1-2Mbps but for only few seconds then the signal will drop down to ZERO.
I can’t even download an iOS update (593MB) on my 3G Plug-it. When I become lucky enough to reach 400+MB of my download, that’s roughly an hour of download time, the signal will go down to zero and I loose everything. I gave up on it.
Nevertheless, SMART is better than Globe. The endpoint is, WE HAVE NO GOOD OPTION. And now that SMART will merge with SUN, I’m afraid that the future of telecommunication in the country seems to be doomed.
True that Smart is better than Globe in terms of network coverage but GLOBE IS BETTER THAN SMART in terms of service.
Regarding PLDT-Digitel deal, I’m against it because it would kill competition and bring down Globe into ruins. The deals is still yet to be approved by the goverment. If the goverment drops this deal there will be no merger.
Your argument is invalid. We are talking about LTE here. Wireless.
eto na naman ang mga telcos, new tech new tech daw eh ung old tech di man lang muna gawing perfect! 2mbps my ass
tomoh!
kami nga may plan 3000 3mbps pero 2.6 mbps lng nakukuha namin pero satisfied na kami… nagrereklamo kau kung bakit ung 1 mbps ay .8mbps lng nakukuha? kumuha kaya kayo ng dedicated line. maghanda nlng kayo ng 40,000 per month para sa mga kaartehan nyo.
Can they really deliver?
I shifted to PLDT DSL last January after surviving Globes Wireless BOREBAND for two years. I was so happy learning PLDT expanding and got connected right away. 1mbps only, once connected it truly was what they said it was.
Two weeks later it dropped to 0.94-0.97Mbps. Acceptable still. Lately i only get 0.82-0.85Mbps prompting me to call them up. They told me that 60-80percent is still GOOD SERVICE. LMAO!!! Say what?!!! The customer rep clarified that if my connection dropped to 0.6Mbps it is still considered GOOD SERVICE
Seriously? So the service fee should likewise drop to 60-80 percent then. Sa umpisa 1mbps…after a while they drop with a lame reason that 60-80 percent of what you pay for is still GOOD SERVICE.
Instead of bringing out new services they really should improve their current broadband services. Geez, good service daw 60-80 percent ng what you pay for. Total crap but what can you do if they are the only decent broadband provider in your area? Suck it up i guess
Your argument is irrelevant. This is WIRELESS INTERNET we are talking about. PLDT offers wired internet service such as DSL. Subsidiary Smart offers wireless internet services such as HSDPA, 3G, and LTE which is the latest technology in the world.
If you find PLDT myDSL a pain in the ass try Sky Broadband. It is much more reliable plus bundled with TV cable service.
0.8 is still acceptable. If you want a flat 1Mbps, go get their lease line and cough 50K a month. Seesh, 1K per month for .8 is acceptable. Get the .7Kb for 1.3K bundled if you feel you’re robbed of your money.
Besides, those that are have 100Mbps only get 70Mbps and they don’t complain.
have you heard about CIR (committed information rate)? ask what is the CIR of you plan before you complain. puro reklamo wala naman alam.
know your technical skills before you complain brader. for a regular DSL line, 80% of your connection speed is truly acceptable. if it’s a leased line, T1, E1, etc.. better to complain and ask for a refund.
why headline “Smart rolls out 50Mbps LTE, 27Mbps HSPA+”
then say this “LTE can do speeds between 50-70Mbps while HSPA+ can do 27.8Mbps. Not sure if Smart will also offer those same speeds to subscribers.”
Well what most of the comments in here (in terms of network speed), if they really offer these kind of speed, they should FIRST provide those subscribers (2MBPS) the RIGHT speed they are paying for. Mostly they only provide lower than the usual speed. Tsk tsk tsk
nice.. hope it will roll out in some city’s also :)
btw question.. is lte modem is downward compatible also on 3g, wcdma or gprs.. just in case you will go to province.. I hope this will be the case..
nope,