Smart Communications just announced that their LTE service is now multi-band operating on both 2100MHz and 1800MHz spectrums making them one of the few in the world to have a multi-frequency mobile LTE service.
It was just over a week ago when Smart launched the country’s first LTE service. It ran on 2100MHz which is the same as the one used by LTE pioneer Japan’s NTT Docomo. The 1800MHz on the other hand is the band of choice by competitor Globe Telecom. It is also the band of choice of top telcos in UK and Australia.
So how will having a multi-band LTE service benefit the consumer? According to PLDT-Smart Technology Group Head Rolando G. Peña, offering LTE in multiple frequencies will give their subscribers greater flexibility, better coverage, and a wider range of compatible devices.
However, Smart advised subscribers not to go ahead and buy LTE devices or handsets off e-Bay just because it runs on 1800MHz or 2100MHz. It’s more complicated than that and even we cannot give a clear cut explanation on how to check if your LTE device will work with Smart’s LTE network. The best and safest way would still be to wait for Smart’s announcement on compatible LTE handsets/devices.