PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications has signed an MoU with ericsson to start deploying a 5G pilot network in 2019.
The 5G pilot network, scheduled to go live by early 2019, will be deployed in Luzon, the largest and most populated island in the Philippines. The MoU will allow Smart to explore industry partnership engagements, collaborate with tertiary institutions such as the academia, and further develop competence in 5G.
The company also conducted the first live demonstration of 5G technology in the country using its 5G trial system, showcasing data speeds of 20 Gbps. The achievement was part of a two-day technology showcase which includes 5G use cases in Network Function Virtualization (NFV), 3D Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality Mining and examples of insight-driven automated operations.
Nunzio Mirtillo, Head of Market Area South East Asia, Oceania and India, Ericsson
We are the first to market with solutions that enable today's networks to evolve smoothly to the next-generation of technologies. 4G is the foundation of 5G, and Ericsson is well poised to help the operators in the Philippines to transition seamlessly from 4G to 5G.
Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman, President and CEO, PLDT and Smart Communications
This will open the door to a new wave of innovative services and solutions that will profoundly change the way our people live and how businesses, government and communities in the country conduct their affairs.
