Smart Communications, Inc., commonly referred to as Smart, is a wholly owned wireless communications and digital services subsidiary of PLDT, Inc., a telecommunications and digital services provider based in the Philippines. The company has 61.8 million subscribers on its GSM network as of end-September 2016, under the brands Smart, Sun, and TNT. Smart's wireless broadband subscribers number 3.8 million under the brands Smart Bro and Sun Wireless Broadband.
Smart offers commercial wireless services through its 2G, 3G, 3.5G HSPA+, and 4G LTE networks, with LTE-A currently being deployed in key areas in the Philippines. It has recently entered the research and development phase for its 5G services. Smart's terrestrial wireless telephony service is being complemented by its satellite communication services Smart Sat and Marino which also serve the global maritime industry.
The company has introduced wireless offerings such as Smart Money, a mobile electronic wallet that also enables its SMS-based money remittance service Smart Padala. It has also been recognized for introducing the world's first over-the-air electronic prepaid loading service called Smart Load. One of its services, PasaLoad, allows its users to pass phone credits to other Smart prepaid accounts through SMS.
Video Smart Communications
History
Early history
Anticipating the liberalization of the telecommunications industry in the Philippines a group of Filipino investors led by Orlando B. Vea and David T. Fernando organized Smart (then named Smart Information Technology, Inc.) on January 24, 1991.
The company obtained its congressional franchise in April 1992 and was granted a provisional authority to operate a mobile cellular service in May 1993. In December 1993, Smart commenced commercial operations of its cellular service. By then, Smart had drawn in partners. These were: First Pacific, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate through its Philippine flagship Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone of Japan (NTT).
In compliance with the government's telecommunications program, Smart established a local exchange service in the cities and provinces assigned to it under the "service area scheme." The Company also obtained licenses to provide international gateway, paging and inter-carrier transmission services.
2000s
On March 24, 2000, PLDT completed its share-swap acquisition of Smart, making Smart a 100%-owned PLDT subsidiary.
2010s
On February 2011, Smart unveiled the Netphone, its own line of Android-compliant smartphones designed for emerging markets at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The Netphone was introduced as the world's first smartphone backed by an operator-managed platform.
On August 25, 2012, Smart launched the Philippines' first 4G mobile broadband commercial service running on LTE technology. On April 13, 2016, Smart introduced the first commercial LTE-A Service in Boracay, Aklan.
On June 13, 2016, Smart and its parent company PLDT unveiled their new logos and identity as part of the company's continuing digital pivot.
On February 2017, Smart and parent company PLDT signed a memorandum of understanding with China-based Huawei Technologies "to shape the strategic and commercial development of the 5G ecosystem in the Philippines".
Maps Smart Communications
Subsidiaries
- i-Contacts Corp
- Chikka Holdings, Ltd.
- Wireless Card, Inc.
- PrimeWorld, Digital Systems, Inc.
- Wolfpac Mobile, Inc.
- Smart Broadband, Inc.
- Smart Money Holdings Corp.
- Far East capital Ltd.
- PayMaya Phils. Inc. formerly Smart e-Money, Inc.
- Voyager Innovations, Inc.
- Wifun, Inc.
- PH Communications Holdings Corp.
- Francom Holdings, Inc.
- PLDT Communications and Energy Ventures, Inc.
- AF Payments, Inc.
Radio frequency summary
See also
- TNT (cellular service)
- TNT Katropa (PBA basketball team)
- Smart Gilas (Philippine men's national basketball team)
- Sun Cellular (cellular service, technically independent but is being integrated as a Smart brand)
- Global (UFL football team)
References
External links
- Official Homepage
Source of article : Wikipedia
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