PLDT, INC. said it has expanded its Long Term Evolution (LTE) services for its wireless brand Sun in Cebu.
In a statement on Wednesday, the telecommunications giant said more than 80% of cell sites in Cebu now have LTE technology, covering Metro Cebu and tourist locations such as Oslob, Moalboal, Daanbantayan, Medellin, Toledo City, Bogo City and Carmen. Also covered were Badian, Balamban, Barili, Catmon, Madridejos, Sibonga and Tabuelan.
“Sun’s newly upgraded network all over Cebu allows its customers to instantly share their stories, as they go about their day,” Smart Communications Vice-President for Prepaid Marketing Carlo Endaya said in the statement.
The company said the network upgrades now allows Sun subscribers in Cebu to experience LTE speeds of up to 50 megabits per second (Mbps).
“LTE is the best technology to help bring fast, affordable and reliable mobile internet services to as many customers as possible. It is also quickly upgradable to LTE-A, which can provide even greater capacity and speeds to users with capable smartphones,” the company said.
LTE-A is an upgraded version of LTE that can bring bigger capacities and speeds to its users.
The company said internal tests showed speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to 50 Mbps were recorded using a Sun LTE SIM and an LTE smartphone in key spots in Cebu. Sun subscribers are encouraged to upgrade 3G SIM to an LTE SIM.
Smart has committed to the government to grow its nationwide third generation (3G) and LTE coverage to 90% by the end of the year. It said in August it has upgraded more than 92% of sites in Metro Manila with LTE.
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. — Denise A. Valdez
