Smart explores LTE roaming partnerships with Asian telcos

Wireless services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is in talks with several Asian telecommunications companies regarding LTE (Long Term Evolution) roaming partnerships, which will allow Smart subscribers to surf the Internet at blazing speeds abroad. Discussions are currently ongoing between Smart and Japan’s NTT Docomo, Hong Kong’s Hutchison Telecommunications, South Korea’s KT Corp., and Singapore’s StarHub.

“We are working on LTE roaming arrangements with other leading Asian telcos so Smart subscribers would continue to have the best Internet experience when traveling abroad. Smart stays true to its promise of helping customers ‘live more’ even when they are beyond Philippine borders,” said Smart International Carrier Business Head Alex Caeg.

Currently the fastest fourth-generation (4G) wireless connection in the world, LTE is capable of speeds as fast as 100 Mbps, making it ideal for high-speed broadband applications. It allows users to stream high-definition (HD) videos faster, download HD movies in minutes, and play lag-free online games.

Smart commercially launched its LTE service last August – the first Philippine telco to do so. Smart LTE is also one of the first commercial deployments of the technology in Asia.

“Now we’re looking at conducting LTE trials with other telcos, especially those who, like Smart, are part of the Conexus Mobile Alliance,” Caeg said.

NTT Docomo, Hutchison, KT, and StarHub are all members of Conexus, one of Asia’s biggest mobile alliances which seeks to develop and enhance international roaming and corporate mobile services for the benefit of the member-companies’ customers.

The Conexus alliance has a combined customer base of more than 330 million mobile subscribers, 50.9 million of whom are Smart subscribers. Caeg is the board chairman of Conexus.

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