PLDT and its wireless arm Smart Communications have fired up their first two 5G cell sites in the Makati Central Business District and at the Clark Freeport Zone (CFZ) in Pampanga.
The companies activated the first 5G cell site at PLDT’s headquarters in Makati City with technology partner Huawei, while they also switched on the first 5G cell site at the Clark Smart 5G City in the CFZ with technology partner Ericsson.
PLDT and Smart chair and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan claims they are the first 5G sites to be activated in the Philippines.
PLDT and Smart are looking to pilot 5G solutions designed for densely populated areas, said Ernesto R. Alberto, PLDT and Smart executive vice president and chief revenue officer.
“With 5G resources now in place, we are looking at developing 5G solutions and applications for central business district areas like Makati, which host a dense population of businesses, people and advanced devices,” he said.
PLDT and Smart recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Clark Development Corp. to transform the CFZ into the country’s first “smart 5G city”.
“With 5G cell sites now live and on-air, we are now set to test 5G’s powerful platform to develop solutions such as autonomous vehicles, connected fleets, and smart buildings and factories, and be able to deliver 5G services to our customers soon,” said Joachim Horn, PLDT-Smart chief technology and information advisor.
Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT-Smart senior VP for Network Planning and Engineering, said the operator is continuously upgrading its network’s core and transport elements, including upgrading its backhaul networks to fiber, and deploying 5G-ready equipment as part of its ongoing nationwide LTE rollout.
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