Leading mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is rolling out fast, free, and secure Smart WiFi in Antipolo City, including key government offices and public areas such as the Antipolo City Hall, Public Market and Plaza.
The wireless arm of the country’s largest integrated telco PLDT is also rolling out its Smart Barangay Connect program to all Antipolo barangays, bringing fast and reliable fiber-powered Wi-Fi connectivity closer to barangay residents for free, at a time when connectivity is a must for learning, commerce, and communications.
This partnership is part of Smart’s “Live Smarter for a Better World” campaign, which aims to highlight Smart’s long-running community partnership programs and enable “personal revolutions” that generate lasting positive impact to society through connectivity and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Smart is also turning over pocket Wi-Fis for Antipolo indigent students, as well as enhancing wireless connectivity inside the City Hall, allowing for faster 4G/LTE and 5G experience. Smart also recently fired up multiple 5G sites in the city.
In addition to providing connectivity, Smart has also been backing efforts to rehabilitate the Marikina Watershed, which is in part located in Antipolo City. For years, Smart, in collaboration with Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, the government and the private sector, has implemented programs to address the livelihood needs of those living within the watershed areas, as well as encouraged its employees to join in activities such as tree-planting and other reforestation efforts.
A step closer to a modern, connected city
“Connectivity is crucial, especially now that we rely on the internet for everything, whether it’s a student engaging in online learning, an employee working from home, or an entrepreneur running their online business. This partnership takes us one step closer to our aspiration of elevating Antipolo City further and making it a truly modern and connected city,” said Antipolo City Mayor Andrea Ynares, who led the signing ceremony at the Antipolo City Hall.
Also present at the event were Smart FVP and Head of Customer Development for NCR and Palawan Gia Palafox, FVP for Corporate Marketing and Strategy Lloyd Manaloto, Center Head GMM Project Management Erlan Gambalan, and AVP for Consumer WiFi and Mobile Advertising Mick Atienza.
“We are in a unique position to address the evolving needs of our customers in the new normal, and Wi-Fi is among the key solutions we are deploying to make our services simpler and more accessible to as many Filipinos as possible,” said Jane J. Basas, Smart Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Wireless Business.
“We are also looking forward to continue working with the city in more environment, education and livelihood initiatives that will enable their citizens to generate more lasting positive impact in their respective communities,” she added.
Smart’s Barangay Connect project, which aims to provide free WiFi to barangays and bring connectivity closer to communities, will soon be rolled out in key areas around the country, starting with Antipolo, Mandaluyong, Las Pinas, General Santos, and Nueva Ecija.
Fastest mobile network in PH
Enabling these projects is parent company PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, the most extensive in the country at more than 429,000 kilometers.
The deployment of Smart WiFi is part of PLDT and Smart’s nationwide rollout and expansion of their integrated fixed and wireless networks. Smart’s LTE network, the fastest mobile network in the country according to third-party analytics firm Ookla, also offers the best 4G coverage, serving 96% of the Philippine population.
The next evolution of wireless communications, 5G is seen to make Smart’s fastest mobile network even faster. To make 5G more accessible to customers, Smart has partnered with device manufacturers to offer a wider array of Smart 5G-certified devices, including the recently launched Smart 5G Rocket Pocket Wifi, the first 5G pocket wifi device sold in the country.
