SMART Communications, Inc., the wireless arm of PLDT, Inc., said on Monday that its fixed wireless subscribers have been increasing, as the implementation of community quarantine restrictions across the country continues.
“Smart’s fixed wireless subscriber base has been seeing a steady increase, with the number of new subscribers growing by as much as 200% month on month,” Smart said in an e-mailed statement.
Smart’s fixed wireless business, which refers to WiFi modems, grew its revenue by 187%, or by P1.1 billion, in the first half of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020.
To support the growing demand for the fixed wireless service and Smart’s mobile customers, the company said it increased the number of its base stations to more than 68,500 as of end-June this year, a 16% increase from end-2020.
Jane J. Basas, senior vice-president and head of consumer wireless business at Smart, said: “Fixed wireless is a bright spot, as demand for our Prepaid Home WiFi service grows, pushing our daily activations on an upward trend.”
“The power of fixed wireless is that it is ‘plug and play’ — no need for installations and wires. It is a ubiquitous solution that enables us to provide broadband connectivity wherever we have 4G/LTE coverage,” she noted. “For Smart, this means we are able to provide fixed wireless connectivity to 96% of the Philippine population from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi.”
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Arjay L. Balinbin
