Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) partnered with the City of Las Piñas in deploying fast, free and secured Smart WiFi across the city.
The alliance kicked off recently during the conduct of COVID-19 vaccination in several sites at Las Piñas.
“As we bring the benefits of the Internet closer to homes and community in Las Piñas, we are able to create stronger bonds and fulfill our vision of a modern city that values family and community ties,” said Vice Mayor April Aguilar, who joined the ceremonies attended by Smart representatives led by Smart FVP and Head of Customer Development for NCR and Palawan Gia Palafox and AVP for Consumer WiFi & Mobile Advertising Mick Atienza.
Under the partnership, Smart is deploying fiber-powered WiFi connectivity to Las Piñas barangays, the city’s elementary and high schools, and the City Hall. Smart is also working closely with the Department of Education (Dep-Ed) Las Piñas for its distance learning program and has turned over PLDT Home WiFi units for the purpose.
The free WiFi would enable more than 5,000 school children with connectivity, empowering them to pursue their passions, either in their schools or in their homes.
This team-up is part of Smart’s “Live Smarter for a Better World” campaign, which shines a spotlight on Smart’s long-running community partnership programs and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Through the campaign, Smart also seeks to inspire individuals to create lasting positive impact to society through “personal revolutions”, powered by connectivity.
“With the Internet, we are not just helping Las Piñas residents to unlock more employment and livelihood opportunities, we will also be able to assist the youths develop their technical and entrepreneurial skills,” the Vice Mayor added.
Jane J. Basas, Smart SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business, said this partnership will also power the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS), provide connectivity to constituents transacting at city hall, as well as help boost the city’s education efforts.
“We are happy to work hand-in-hand with the City of Las Piñas as it responds to the call of these fast-changing times by upgrading the quality of public service and making its services faster and more efficient, down to the barangay level,” Basas said.
Smart’s Barangay Connect project, which aims to provide free Wi-Fi to barangays and bring connectivity closer to communities, will soon roll out to key areas around the country starting at Antipolo, Mandaluyong, Las Piñas, General Santos and Nueva Ecija.
Fastest mobile network in PH
Enabling these projects is parent company PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, the most extensive in the country at more than 429,000 kilometers.
The deployment of Smart WiFi is part of PLDT and Smart’s nationwide rollout and expansion of their integrated fixed and wireless networks. Smart’s LTE network, the fastest mobile network in the country according to third-party analytics firm Ookla, also offers the best 4G coverage, serving 96% of the Philippine population. The next evolution of wireless communications, 5G is seen to make Smart’s fastest mobile network even faster. To make 5G more accessible to customers, Smart has partnered with device manufacturers to offer a wider array of Smart 5G-certified devices, including the recently launched Smart 5G Rocket Pocket Wifi, the first 5G pocket wifi device sold in the country.
