Smart advances mobile satellite tests
Wireless giant Smart Communications Inc. has made progress in its effort to provide every town with a cellular signal, this time testing the viability of satellite-to-device service for critical uses like disaster response.
Smart Communications Inc., a leading wireless telecommunications company in the Philippines, has made significant progress in its quest to provide widespread cellular coverage to every town in the country. In a recent pilot test, Smart focused on the viability of satellite-to-device service for critical applications such as disaster response.
By bringing the satellite-to-device trial to Batangas, the telco aimed to evaluate how it could be effectively utilized in emergency scenarios where traditional land-based infrastructure might be disrupted.
The primary objective of this pilot activity was to assess the feasibility of using satellite-to-device service to disseminate essential emergency alerts, such as evacuation calls, during critical situations. Smart's ultimate goal is to expand its presence in the emerging satellite-to-device market, especially in areas where building cell sites is impractical.
This innovation is seen not only as a means to bridge the connectivity gap but also as a substantial infrastructure boost to enhance disaster response capabilities across the Philippines.
Menardo Jimenez Jr., the chief operating officer of Smart's parent company, PLDT Inc., emphasized the critical role of communication services in bolstering disaster resilience. "Our mission at PLDT is to be there for all Filipinos—whether they are talking to family abroad, or requesting assistance from a rooftop in the middle of a calamity," he stated.
Beyond its immediate disaster response function, Smart's satellite-to-device service aims to extend its reach to subscribers in some of the most remote areas of the world, including fishermen and seafarers at sea.
Smart's journey in the satellite-to-device space began with previous tests in Catanduanes and Ilocos Norte, where the company explored how satellite signals could effectively complement terrestrial assets in reaching remote towns. Collaborating with Lynk Global Inc., which operates low earth orbit satellites, Smart successfully tested the mobile satellites in these pilot regions.
In contrast, Globe Telecom Inc. had already entered the satellite-to-device market earlier this year, partnering with Elon Musk's Starlink to deliver connectivity to the remaining four percent of Filipinos without access to cell sites.
Written by urgent.news from Philippine Star Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
