Smart, KT team up to develop 5G innovations in the Philippines

Smart Communications, Inc. and Korea’s largest telecommunications company, KT Corp., have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore and develop consumer 5G use cases in the Philippines.

“Smart has long been at the forefront of innovation in the Philippines. These innovations have led to widespread social and economic development over the years. In order to build a truly world-class 5G ecosystem with life-changing experiences, we will need to collaborate, learn, and partner with formidable industry leaders, such as KT,” Katrina Luna-Abelarde, PLDT and Smart Head of the Strategic Partnerships said in joint statement.

According to both companies, the purpose of the understanding is to push 5G innovation in the country, whilst Smart has reinforced its position as the Philippines’s premier 5G network.

Justin Moon, KT head of Global Business Unit highlighted that “timing is crucial in digital transformation in business. We hope that the two companies can grow to always share information regarding various DX projects, including 5G, and promote new business.”

Smart also operates the widest 5G Network in the Philippines with over 4,400 sites nationwide. The company recently fired up its commercial 5G SA sites in Makati City, powering up one of the first 5G SA networks in the world. 5G SA technology paves the way for a variety of new industrial applications that utilize 5G’s full features, the company noted.

According to third-party analytics firm Ookla, Smart is the country’s fastest 5G Network, based on Speedtest results taken in Q1-Q2 2021. Ookla has also cited Smart as the most reliable 5G network, after receiving the highest scores in 5G consistency and 5G availability.