Speeds of Smart Bro Plug-It, Pocket Wifi increased 70%

Monday, September 19, 2011

SMART Broadband, Inc. (Smart Bro) has increased the maximum speeds of its portable products by as much as 70 percent. Smart Bro Starter Plug-It users can now experience speeds of up to 3.6Mbps (up from 2.0Mbps) while Power Plug-It and Pocket WiFi users can experience speeds of up to 5Mbps (up from 3.6Mbps) at no extra cost, the company said in a press statement.

According to Smart Broadband Internet and Data Services Head Giovanni Bacareza, the increase in download speeds is a result of Smart and parent company PLDT’s (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.) continuing network upgrades.

“Our Starter and Power Plug-Its are now able to reach such speeds thanks to the billions we’ve invested in improving our network,” said Bacareza. “Our customers have attested to this improvement and even third party entities have verified that fact.”

Bacareza refers to the recent round of speed tests conducted by independent engineering firm NESIC Philippines, Inc., which showed that Smart Bro’s connection speeds beat the competition with an average of 0.74Mbps.

NESIC’s tests were conducted in 100 sites across the country and were held during various times of the day.

PLDT and Smart’s network upgrades are scheduled to continue until 2013. A total of P67.1 billion has been earmarked for the endeavor, which includes the upgrading and installation of network elements such as cell sites, fiber optic cables, and international gateways.

“It’s easy to say that you have the fastest devices and the fastest wireless connection speeds, but if you don’t have a solid infrastructure working in the background, you can’t deliver quality service to your subscribers,” said PLDT and Smart Technology Group Head Rolando G. Peña.

The Smart Bro Starter Plug It (P995),the Smart Bro Power Plug-It (P1,245), and Smart Bro Pocket WiFi (P3,895) are available in all Smart Wireless Centers and in leading electronics stores nationwide.

The company is also offering various prepaid load and pricing schemes from P10 per 30 minutes of use to P200 for five days unlimited surfing.

Also available from Smart is the 4G HSPA+ Smart Bro Rocket Plug-It (P3,995), which is capable of speeds of up to 12Mbps. (PR)
 

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 20, 2011.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2011/09/19/speeds-smart-bro-plug-it-pocket-wifi-increased-70-180251