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PLDT's Smart to Ramp-up 4CC LTE-A Deployment in 2018

Screenshot-Marikina 4CC speedtest

PLDT wireless arm Smart Communications (Smart) plans to roll out its high-speed LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) service with carrier aggregation in more areas of the country this year.

This includes the deployment of four-component (4CC) carrier aggregation which can deliver data speeds of over 200 Mbps via 4CC capable handsets.

Carrier Aggregation on LTE-A involves combining two or more radio frequency bands to deliver bigger bandwidth and faster data speeds to mobile phone users. With 4CC, four separate spectrum bands are combined, resulting in much higher data speeds.

In late 2017, Smart and technology partner Huawei Technologies Philippines started firing up 4CC base stations in Boracay and Marikina City, reaching speeds during internal tests of more than 300 Mbps in a single-user scenario and over 200 Mbps in a multi-user daytime set up, using Samsung’s flagship 4CC-capable smartphones, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

Smart’s LTE-A roll out is a follow through of its accelerated expansion of its LTE network over the past year. In 2016, Smart started to deploy LTE in multiple frequencies including low band spectrum such as 700 MHz, initially in Boracay and in Metro Davao.

In 2017, Smart’s LTE and 3G expansion program initially covered Metro Cebu, Rizal and Metro Manila and has since proceeded to other parts of the country.

In August 2017, Smart and Huawei launched 4CC in Boracay, reaching average speeds of 280 Mbps using the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, while promising speeds of up to 400 to 500 Mbps were also achieved via 4x4 MIMO and 256 QAM technology on a live and loaded network in Boracay, also using the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

Mario G. Tamayo, SVP for Network Planning Engineering, PLDT and Smart
This is not a test or pilot. We are bringing today 4CC to our customers as a live, commercial service that can deliver world-class mobile internet.

Ernesto R. Alberto, Chief Revenue Officer, PLDT Group 
By deploying LTE-A, we will have an even more powerful network platform for offering a richer array of data services and digital life solutions to enterprises, families and individuals.

Author

Ray is a news editor at The Fast Mode, bringing with him more than 10 years of experience in the wireless industry.

For tips and feedback, email Ray at ray.sharma(at)thefastmode.com, or reach him on LinkedIn @raysharma10, Facebook @1RaySharma

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