Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has activated its 5G roaming service in Taiwan. This is made possible through a partnership with FarEasTone (FET) Telecommunications. FET is the leading telecommunications and digital application services company in the country. Now, customers who are roaming in Taiwan can enjoy 5G data roaming speeds using their Smart SIM and 5G device.
Additionally, Smart Prepaid and Postpaid subscribers roaming in Taiwan can further maximize their service. They just need to subscribe to Smart’s GigaRoam plans for as low as P999. Interested customers can visit roam.smart.com.ph to discover and subscribe to available data roaming plans.
Smart’s 5G roaming service allows a Smart subscriber to enjoy worry-free 5G service even while abroad. This is thanks mainly to Smart and its 5G roaming partners. This is part of Smart’s commitment of delivering superior customer service.
5G roaming speeds mean faster upload of travel blogs and videos and fast download speeds. It also means seamless data connectivity to work-productivity apps for business travelers.
The launch of Smart 5G roaming service in Taiwan with FET follows Smart’s partnership with KT Corp. in South Korea. Taiwan and South Korea are among the world’s top three countries for best 5G experience in a February 2021 report by mobile analytics and insights research company Opensignal.
Smart, FET, and KT are members of the CONEXUS Mobile Alliance. The alliance includes 9 member-telcos in Asia who are at the forefront of delivering innovative, customer-friendly services for customers of member operators who frequently travel on business. Katrina Luna-Abelarde, President and CEO at PLDT Global and head of International and Carrier Business, currently chairs CONEXUS.
This series of 5G roaming partnerships with the alliance is a testament to Smart’s commitment to providing world-class roaming services to its travelers.
Leader in 5G in Philippines
In the Philippines, Smart remains at the forefront of the 5G revolution. Smart launched its commercial 5G service in July last year. It was the first in the country to roll out its 5G service nationwide. Additionally, the telco has been conducting tests with 5G starting in 2016.
Smart has also ramped-up the nationwide roll-out of its ultrafast 5G network, which also includes 5G sites in Metro Manila, Cebu, Boracay, Iloilo, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, and Davao.
On top of beefing up its nationwide 5G network, Smart has also teamed up with device manufacturers like Samsung, Huawei, OPPO, Vivo, and realme to put more Smart-certified 5G devices within easy reach of their subscribers. (For the full list of devices, visit 5g.smart)
5G is expected to make Smart, the Philippines’ fastest mobile network as recognized by third-party analytics firm Ookla, even faster.
These initiatives on 5G form a large part of PLDT’s sustained network investments, which totaled some Php286.3 billion from 2016 to 2020. To meet the requirements of their mobile and fixed-line subscribers, PLDT and Smart are prepared to invest between Php 88 billion and Php 92 billion in capital expenditures in 2021.
Supporting Smart’s 5G network is PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, which is the most extensive in the country at more than 429,000 kilometers as of December 2020.
