Tag Archives: LTE

Sun Cellular now offers LTE plans

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After almost two years since the Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology landed in the Philippines, the third mobile operator in the country – Sun Cellular – finally offered the service to its customers.

Leading telco operators Globe Telecom and Sun’s sister company, Smart Communications, started rolling out LTE to their postpaid customers back in 2012 and later on offered the service to their prepaid counterparts. Sun Cellular, on the other hand, just recently joined the bandwagon by offering their LTE version initially as a postpaid subscription.

On the recent update on their website, the network’s introductory plan offering is via the LTE Plan 999 that comes with 4GB of Internet surfing and a device which depends on the holding period.

Should the customer prefers to get an LTE Plan 999 for 12 months, the LTE USB Modem is the device that is bundled with the plan. It also has an initial cash-out of Php2,800. For 24 months, LTE Pocket WiFi is being offered with Php1,500 as the initial cash-out.

Apart from the LTE Plan 999, Sun also offers an Easy LTE Plan. This includes a SIM-only plan with a holding period of 3 months, and the LTE USB Modem and LTE Pocket WiFi plans without holding periods but with higher cash-out prices – Php4,500 and Php3,500 respectively.

Sun does not guarantee though that subscribers can get the full 42Mbps LTE speed but provided a heads up on their FAQ page that a minimum GPRS speed of 12 to 48 Kbps at 80% service reliability rate will be available.

The LTE coverage is pretty much the same with Sun’s mother network, Smart, which we can probably say that Smart carries the LTE coverage of Sun.

The question is, should you get an LTE plan with Sun knowing that their current data service isn’t performing well? As the all networks say, their signal and performance really depend on your location. So, you better check first the connection reliability of Sun in your area before finally signing in for a postpaid plan.

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Smart launches first prepaid LTE SIM in the Philippines

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Filipinos are now craving for mobile high speed Internet. While the country is currently enjoying a growing number of Long Term Evolution (LTE) sites, not all are capable of using it as local carriers initially offered the service to postpaid users. But, that is about to change as Smart just rolled out the new Smart LTE Prepaid available across the archipelago.

From now on, consumers won’t have to be tied up in a two-year (or more) contracts with the local telcos as the Smart LTE prepaid is now good to go. Globe, Smart’s direct competitor, will surely follow soon.

Filipinos who are using LTE-capable smartphones such as iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S4, Sony Xperia V and Z, Nokia Lumia 920, Huawei Ascend D1 LTE and ZTE T82 will now be able to connect to the awesome speed of Smart’s LTE.

Existing Smart prepaid subscribers may be able to retain the same number by requesting to have their SIMs upgraded at any Smart Stores. Now, that’s good news to Smart’s loyal users!

To enjoy Smart LTE prepaid, you will first need to register to the service. Smart is offering LTE in three denominations:   1-day, 7-day and 30-day subscriptions. To register, just follow the syntax below:

PhP50 = 1 day unlimited LTE: Send LTE 50 to 2200
PhP299 = 7 days unlimited LTE: Send LTE 299 to 2200
PhP995 = 30 days unlimited LTE: Send LTE 995 to 2200

Smart LTE Prepaid is priced PhP40 for the micro-SIM pre-loaded with  P35 worth of All-network texts and PhP100 for the nano-SIM variant with P50 load.

There’s also a BRO LTE Prepaid SIM available but this variant is only good for data – no SMS and voice capability.

You may also check Smart’s LTE coverage to make sure if your area is covered and maximize your subscription.

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Globe exclusively offers HTC One with LTE for P1,599 per month

Globe may not have the largest LTE-covered areas in the country but  the network boasts its handset offerings exclusively available to them. After BlackBerry Z10 with LTE exclusively available to Globe Telecom, HTC One follows the same marketing strategy as the network now offers the latest Android-powered smartphone for just P1,599 per month.

Also known as code name M7, HTC One LTE is HTC’s flagship device this year. Globe is offering this phone under their newly launched Best-Ever MySuperPlan 999. There will be P600 in addition to the plan as cashout for the device good for 24 months. This package includes unlimited data surfing and monthly consumables which can be distributed per customer’s preference.

Interested? Visit any Globe Store near you or click here to order online.

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Globe launches BlackBerry Z10 with best plan deals, offers LTE version at no extra cost

Globe Telecom officially launched the new BlackBerry® Z10 smartphone with its suite of fully-customizable unlimited mobile surfing plans bundled with unlimited browsing, consumable amount for calls and texts, and freebies. The leader in postpaid is also offering the BlackBerry Z10 LTE at no extra cost.

Subscribers can get the BlackBerry Z10 for free at Globe Unli Surf Plan 1799 over a 30-month contract. With Globe Unli Surf Plan 1799, subscribers get unlimited and worry-free mobile surfing, P800 monthly consumable amount for calls and texts, and three (3) call and text freebies.

For consumers who opt for a shorter lock-up period, they can avail of the BlackBerry Z10 for free for as low as P1999 monthly at Globe Unli Surf Plan 1799 with P200 monthly cashout over a 24-month contract. 

“Finally, the BlackBerry Z10 has arrived in the Philippines and Globe is very excited to offer the latest BlackBerry smartphone to our subscribers under our roster of postpaid plans. Filipinos are huge fans of BlackBerry and as such, we expect a strong demand for the new BlackBerry Z10. With our strong partnership with BlackBerry, subscribers can definitely rely on Globe for the best BlackBerry Z10 offers and deals,” said Martha Sazon, Head of Globe Postpaid.

Sazon added, “The BlackBerry Z10 works best with an unlimited surfing plan from Globe so you can enjoy unlimited and worry-free mobile surfing, a monthly consumable amount for calls and texts, and freebies. Subscribers can further boost their plans with unlimited add-on services available for as low as P349 monthly. Finally, with the Globe Guarantee and an upgraded Globe network with a more aggressive LTE rollout nationwide, subscribers get the best BlackBerry Z10 experience that no other network can provide.” 

The new BlackBerry Z10 is the first BlackBerry smartphone to launch with the re-designed, re-engineered and re-invented BlackBerry 10 platform, giving customers a powerful and unique new mobile computing experience. The BlackBerry Z10 smartphone is the fastest and most advanced BlackBerry smartphone yet, and offers customers a smarter experience that continuously adapts to their needs. With BlackBerry 10, every feature, every gesture, and every detail is designed to keep customers moving with new advancements that customers will love.

“We are excited to launch the new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone with Globe in the Philippines. We believe customers will be delighted with the faster and smarter experience from the powerful BlackBerry Z10 running on the Globe LTE network to keep them moving,” said Cameron Vernest, Country Director for the Philippines at BlackBerry.

Interested subscribers can pre-order the BlackBerry Z10 from Globe starting March 9, 2013 online. The BlackBerry Z10 will be officially available in Globe Stores nationwide starting March 19, 2013.

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Globe intensifies LTE coverage, fires up more sites

Globe Telecom has intensified its 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) service as it activates more LTE sites across the country, giving its subscribers more reasons to enjoy superfast mobile connectivity in its network.

Initially offered in the City of Makati, Globe has steadily increased its LTE coverage by bolstering its LTE infrastructure in key cities of Metro Manila as well as major areas outside the metropolis. These include Pasig City, Quezon City, Taguig, City of Manila, Muntinlupa City, as well as Cebu City and Boracay in Malay, Aklan in the Visayas. Within these locales, the company has switched-on its LTE signal in some of the major avenues, villages and subdivisions, business districts, upscale malls, hotels, busy commercial zones, government offices, schools, sporting arenas and hospitals, as well as the premier tourist destination Boracay.

In an interview, Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu said that the LTE philosophy of Globe is to let their subscribers go around contiguous areas without having to lose their LTE signal: “We don’t want them to be constrained in a specific LTE spot and be cut-off after stepping out of there. The Globe LTE coverage lets them freely walk around places they frequent such as malls, offices and the like and still receive our LTE signal seamlessly.”

The Globe chief said that the company’s LTE expansion will quickly cover more ground across the Philippines as the first phase of its modernization nears completion with its new network primed for LTE, and will be supported by the ongoing rollout of over 12,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable spanning the archipelago.

According to Globe Chief Technical Advisor Robert Tan, this development further bolsters the company’s 4G network as it introduced technologies in anticipation of the incremental demand for mobile data.

“We have continued to expand our LTE coverage as we focus on large, contiguous areas, instead of “pocket activations” and “hot spots” to ensure greater and more stable coverage for customers,” confirmed Tan. “With the Globe LTE, we have upped the ante in terms of internet connectivity by as much as 42 Mbps, currently the fastest available there is now.” 

Since fourth quarter of last year, Globe subscribers with LTE-powered gadgets such as the premium mobile broadband Tattoo Black and the first commercially-available LTE handset in the country, the Huawei Ascend P1, have been enjoying internet connections at breakneck speeds via the Globe LTE. Meanwhile, those armed with the iPhone 5, iPad 3 and the iPad mini which have recently made available their LTE connectivity through iOS upgrades can now experience ultrafast Globe LTE on their Apple devices.

Globe was first to introduce 4G technology in the Philippines with its WiMax network in 2009 and during that same year, it collaborated with SingTel to test 4G LTE in the country which was able to register speeds of up to 100 Mbps. In 2011, Globe gave its subscribers their first HSPA+ signal. Mobile 4G LTE for handsets was already active as of late last year, supporting voice and SMS.

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Globe subscribers to enjoy LTE on their iPhone 5 for free

Globe subscribers on iPhone 5 postpaid plans can now experience fourth-generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) on their devices by updating to Apple’s latest software, the iOS6.1.

The availability is on the heels of Apple’s announcement that it has enabled the LTE functionality of the iPhone 5 in the Philippines.

With this development, Globe postpaid subscribers on iPhone 5 can enjoy blazing mobile internet speeds of up to 42 Mbps in LTE-covered areas without having to upgrade their plans or pay extra charges.

To enjoy LTE coverage on their iPhone 5, subscribers need to update to iOS 6.1 and use an LTE Nano-SIM.

“We are very excited to welcome this milestone for our postpaid subscribers as we provide them with ultra-fast data speeds and better call and text experience on their iPhone 5 devices,” said Peter Bithos, Senior Advisor for Consumer Business at Globe.

Added Bithos, “Even with LTE, Postpaid subscribers don’t need to incur additional fees or shift to a different or higher data plan just to enjoy the benefits of LTE. Globe is making LTE available to everyone on LTE-enabled devices regardless of their plan subscription.”

As of January 2013, the Globe LTE network, which uses a frequency of 1800 MHz perfect for the iPhone 5, has quickly expanded to cover more areas nationwide. Aside from Makati, LTE coverage is now available in select areas in Manila, Pasig City, Quezon City, Taguig City, Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong, Cebu City, and Boracay.

To ensure greater and more stable coverage, the Globe LTE rollout strategy focuses on large, contiguous areas, instead of sporadic distribution in the form of pocket activations or hotspots.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, Globe unveiled its roster of LTE-enabled products and services such as its 4G LTE broadband dongle Tattoo Black, the country’s first-ever LTE data roaming service, and its LTE-powered smartphone Huawei Ascend P1 LTE and ZTE T81 LTE under its suite of fully-customizable postpaid plans bundled with unlimited data for worry-free mobile browsing.

LTE is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and other data devices such as tablets and USB modems. It is a next-generation mobile network technology that responds to the growing demand for mobile Internet bandwidth by providing download speeds of as much as 100 Mbps.

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Globe announces Tattoo Black as 4G LTE plan

Globe Telecom announces via a corporate blog that the network will start offering two new postpaid plans under the Tatto Black brand, Globe’s premium mobile broadband stick. These new plans will utilize their 4G LTE broadband technology.

Globe Tattoo Black will be offered in Plan 1799 and Plan 2499. Both plans will have a dedicated hotline for customer service and technical assistance. Subscribers will also experience priority assistance in all Globe stores nationwide.

Under the Plan 1799, subscribers will get a free USB dongle and will enjoy Internet speed of up to 28Mbps. Those who will be getting the Plan 2499 can connect to up to 42 Mbps.

In line with the announcement, Globe also came up with a promotion. All interested parties will enter to a raffle for a chance to get an all-expense paid trip to the Singapore Grand Race. Consumers should register their interest to avail of the Tattoo Black Postpaid Plan via the tattoo. globe.com.ph portal where they will fill up a form to enter their personal information. Last day of registration is on September 14, 2012, 12 noon. Raffle will also be on the same date at 1 PM.

“Ultimate speed and pure spectacle is what Tattoo Black is all about, which is very much similar to the Singapore Race,” a Globe official said in a press release.

This post was first published at KabayanTech.com.

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Smart to launch LTE commercially on August 25

The Philippines may probably be the country that has the lowest Internet speed in the world but has expensive plan offers. Worry no more as Smart, the country’s biggest and largest Internet service provider, is bringing the latest in telecommunications technology to the Philippines.

Smart Long Term Evolution (LTE) has been launched serveral months ago for testing and this week, the network announced that they are finally offering it commercially.

Slated on August 25, Saturday, the Smart LTE Epic Launch Party event will be held at the Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila from 1PM onwards. Interested goers can register on Smart’s LTE-dedicated web page.
Smart promises that with the coming of LTE to commercial users, subscribers can download movies in minutes, stream videos in seconds and play games with no lag.

By definition, LTE is a “wireless communication standard capable of ultra-fast data-transfer speeds of 100Mbps and beyond, depending on the device used.” With Smart’s 4G LTE, the network is advertising the service speed of up to 42Mbps.

As of this moment, we really can’t tell if Smart can indeed meet our expectations with this release of high-speed Internet. Aside from reviewing those beta test results from invited parties, as soon as we experience the service on our area, we can only hope for the best.

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Globe Telecom upgrades network deploying 3G, HSPA+, LTE, 4G technologies

Globe Telecom promises an improved and more stable network as the company boosts up its technical backbone. As per press release, the network rolls out its ‘massive network modernization program.’

Globe subscribers will no longer experience SMS and voice services interruptions saying prompts like ‘message sending failed‘ and ‘unable to establish connection‘ will be eliminated with this move to expand and solidify their network.

Globe signal will be consistent throughout the archipelago with the network’s wider 3G footprint. HSPA+ and long-term evolution (LTE), both of 4G technologies, will soon be experienced too making Globe’s mobile services more reliable.

Reports said that the network invested a total of US$790 million for Globe’s modernization project for the next five years. Initially, as Globe recently announced, the network deployed HSPA+ and 3G to its 6,000 base stations nationwide for the next two years.

“The network transformation program is definitely another milestone for Globe. The key to delivering quality products and services is having a strong, reliable and solid network infrastructure,” said Robert Tan, chief technical adviser of Globe. “With this modernization program in place, we are evolving to become a multi-service network enabling different platforms while keeping our customers always connected with Globe.”


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