PLDT’s wireless communications unit, Smart Communications, has re-entered the device market after an eight-year hiatus with the launch of affordable phones that support 5G technology for faster internet connections.
On Thursday, MVP Group’s communications division, in partnership with global information and communications technology company ZTE, unveiled the Smart ZTE Blade A75 5G model.
It is priced at 5,450 pesos, which is lower than the average price of 8,000 to 9,000 pesos for 5G devices on the market.
read: 5G is expected to accelerate Filipino digitalization
This increases Smart’s chances of achieving its target of having 12 million 5G subscribers by the end of the year.
“For many Filipinos, price is the biggest barrier to upgrading to a 5G smartphone. We aim to break that barrier with the Smart ZTE Blade A75 5G, which is a great deal considering the features and accessories it comes with,” said Alex Caig, head of Smart Consumer Wireless Business.
The mid-range 5G mobile device comes with a 6.6-inch display and a 50-megapixel camera.
According to its latest report, Smart has 60.8 million mobile subscribers, of which around 10% are 5G users.
PLDT hopes to increase the number of 5G users with the introduction of the new devices, Roderick Santiago, deputy head of smart networks, told The Inquirer in an interview.
“We’re working aggressively. We want to double that. It all depends on the uptake of the devices,” he said.
Apart from selling devices, Santiago explained that the company is also looking to convert its existing 3.4 million 3G and 2G users to 5G.
Smart has combined 5G and 4G networks to reach 97% of the population.
5G technology will enable download speeds of over 10 gigabits per second, 100 times faster than 4G.
According to a report from mobile research firm GSMA, 5G adoption in the Philippines is expected to rise to 46% in 2030 from just 6% in 2023 as operators invest in ramping up infrastructure. This means that almost half of the Philippine population is expected to use 5G to access the internet.
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This growth is expected to cause 4G penetration to fall from 80 percent to 51 percent over the same period.
