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By Darwin G. Amojelar, Reporter
SMART Communications Inc. said it would offer a
wide range of 3G (third generation) technology data services to its
subscribers nationwide.
The wireless unit of Philippine Long Distance
Telephone Company (PLDT) has sought additional 3G frequencies from
the National Telecommuni-cations Commission (NTC) for use in its
bandwidth-hungry services.
Smart wants the assignment of the 825 to 835
megahertz and 870 to 880 megahertz bandwidth. Its current
3G-frequency assignment falls within the 1920 to 1935 megahertz and
2110 to 2125 megahertz range.
In a letter to the NTC, Enrico L. Español,
Smart’s Department Head for Legal and Regulatory Concerns, said
the additional frequency band is necessary to enable the company to
offer a new and expanded range of leading-edge and high-speed data
services involving more complex applications that require wider and
bigger bandwidth and faster data speeds.
Español said these bandwidth-hungry services
include interactive rich media generation of user content, medical
and hospital remote medical diagnosis and tele-radiology, business
functionalities, distance education or e-learning, e-government,
telemetry for machine-to-machine applications as well as ubiquitous
and pervasive wireless broadband or high speed Internet access.
Smart had set aside P33 billion for its planned
capital expenditure in six years.
It already offers 3G services in Metro Manila,
Cebu, Iloilo, Boracay, Baguio, Davao and in other key cities and
major towns in the country.
Rival Globe Telecom Inc. earlier asked for
additional 3G frequency bands for its deployment in rural areas.
A study done by the International Data Corp.
said demand for 3G phones will increase this year, although adoption
will be faster in the devices space than in the services space.
3G provides the subscriber faster access to the
Internet and capability to transmit and receive data in various
forms, including photos, video, and audio.
Smart and Globe were two of four companies that
bagged permits to offer 3G more than two years ago. The other two
were Digital Telecommunications Phils. Inc. and Connectivity
Unlimited Resources Enterprises. Although bidding for the
frequencies was hotly contested, 3G take up has yet to live up to
earlier forecasts of demand.
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