Leading wireless service provider Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) has started to rapidly deploy its Third Generation (3G) mobile network nationwide following the award of 3G frequencies by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
"We have been testing a number of 3G cell sites and can now service customers on a trial basis in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. What’s more, we have already ordered the network facilities needed to establish nationwide 3G coverage at the shortest possible time," Smart president and CEO Napoleon Nazareno said. "We will repeat the rapid roll-out that we accomplished in deploying first our analog and then our GSM network infrastructures. We are in 3G for real."
Among the companies that applied for a Third Generation (3G) license, SMART ranked highest, garnering a perfect score of 30 based on the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) 30-point grading system designed to gauge the capability of aspiring telco operators to massively and effectively provide 3G services.
As a result, Smart has been assigned the largest radio frequency allocation — 15 MHz compared to 10 MHz for the other operators. Moreover, it now has the choice of the best frequency spectrum. This will enable Smart to rapidly deploy its 3G network nationwide and also offer the highest quality 3G service to its subscribers.
"We will fully utilize these 3G frequencies to provide the best quality service to our customers," Nazareno said.
The grading system used, as detailed in section 3.6 of NTC’s 3G ruling, measures the capability of prospective operators to: massively roll-out 3G network in at least 80% of the country’s towns and cities in the next five years; interconnect with other 3G and mobile operators; and share network and facilities with other providers in areas where demand limits service provision to just one operator.
3G is shorthand for the next generation of mobile communications networks running on the WCDMA (wireless code division multiple access) platform. This technology allows for faster data transmission speeds from 114 kbps up to 2 Mbps, making possible high-speed data communications and mobile multimedia services such as video conferencing, audio streaming and mobile internet.
REAL 3G
In November this year, Smart demonstrated its readiness to offer a full-range of 3G services in a live demo at an international conference in Cebu. Witnessed by the members of the press, this was conducted in conjunction with the annual conference of the Inter-working Roaming Expert Group (iREG) of the GSM Association.
During the demo, the company not only showcased a live video conference call on a Smart-to-Smart network, but also completed an international roaming call between Smart and Telecom Italia Mobile. Also, it sampled breakthrough services such as broadcast streaming and simultaneous voice and messaging.
"The success of these latest 3G tests reinforces Smart’s leadership position to efficiently support real applications in a 3G network," the Smart CEO said.
He added that apart from preparations covering hardware and equipment, the company is also putting into place necessary support systems such as billing and applications.
QUIET PREPARATIONS
Smart officials said that the company had started preparations for a seamless transition to 3G as early as five years ago.
In December 2000, Smart in cooperation with Nokia Networks conducted the first successful 3G video call in the country in the presence of NTC officials. Using experimental equipment, this test call recorded data transfer rates of up to 216.9 kbps.
In 2000 as well. Smart started installing new GSM (global system for mobile communications) base station equipment that not only substantially increased the capacity of its digital mobile phone network, but also made it easier to install 3G system in the future.
This modular GSM equipment is about half the size of earlier signaling devices but can handle over twice the number of subscribers. It also has the added advantage of being upgradeable to support the operations of a 3G mobile phone system.
"Early on, we have been taking concrete steps in preparation for the next generation wireless technologies," said Rolando G. Peña, head of SMART’s network services division. "The base station equipment we’ve installed has the added advantage of being upgradeable to support the operations of a 3G platform," he added.
"The installation of this modular GSM equipment fits neatly into SMART’s overall 3G preparations. Now that the 3G equipment is available, the 3G capability of these base stations can be readily activated, greatly simplifying the roll-out of 3G infrastructure," Smart’s Nazareno said.
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