PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has rolled out free WiFi connectivity to support vaccination sites in Metro Manila, Palawan, and Rizal.
Smart is providing Prepaid Home WiFi and Smart Bro Pocket WiFi units with load for use in vaccination sites in the cities of Las Pinas, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Quezon City and Taguig in Metro Manila, Antipolo and Taytay in Rizal, and Puerto Princesa in Palawan.
These include the Tumana Health Center and Kapitbahayan Health Center in Navotas; SM Masinag, SM Cherry Antipolo, Robinsons Antipolo, iMall – Antipolo and Fatima Covered Court in Antipolo; SM Southmall and SM Las Pinas in Las Pinas; Andres Bonifacio Elementary School, Aurora A Quezon Elementary School and Harbour Square in Manila; Marikina Sports Center and Marikina Elementary School in Marikina; Ospital ng Muntinlupa in Muntinlupa; Puerto Princesa Coliseum in Palawan; Batasan Hills National High School in Quezon City; SM Taytay in Rizal; and vaccination sites in Magtanggol and Sta Rosario in Taguig.
“We are in a unique position to help our country’s vaccination drive by providing the connectivity in these vaccination hubs. We are happy to work hand-in-hand with our LGUs as they respond to the call of these crucial times, and partner with them in making a Better World for everyone,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.
Support for gov’t COVID response
This initiative is part of PLDT and Smart’s ongoing support for the government’s nationwide COVID-19 response, which also includes the roll-out of fiber-powered WiFi connectivity to government-run quarantine, swabbing, isolation sites, vaccination sites, and other COVID-19 facilities.
Since last year, PLDT and Smart have been providing connectivity and communications support to frontline agencies and their personnel such as the departments of health, transportation, public works, the armed forces and police, local governments, and non-governmental organizations in different parts of the country, to help frontliners and patients stay connected despite the challenges of the pandemic.
These efforts are aligned with Smart’s thrust in its “Live Smarter for a Better World” campaign, which highlights Smart’s long-running community partnership programs, enabling “personal revolutions” that spark lasting positive change through connectivity and CSR initiatives.
These efforts are also part of the company’s commitment to helping the Philippines attain the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG #4: Quality Education and SDG #9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
Fastest mobile network
PLDT Prepaid Home WiFi and Smart Bro Pocket WiFi allow users to connect to Smart LTE, the fastest mobile network in the country according to third-party analytics firms. To date, Smart’s mobile network covers 96% of the Philippine population from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi.
Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, named Smart as the country’s fastest mobile data network in the second half of 2020, and has also cited Smart as the country’s fastest mobile data network for three years in a row now.
On the other hand, Smart also recently scored a rare sweep in the April 2021 Philippines Mobile Network Experience Awards by independent analytics firm Opensignal*, beating the competition across all metrics in three essential aspects of service: Coverage (4G Coverage Experience, 4G Availability), Speed (Download and Upload Speed) and Experience (Games, Video and Voice App).
Double Data
Prepaid Home WiFi and Smart Bro Pocket WiFi customers can avail of Double Data exclusively on the GigaLife App. With this offer, subscribers who register to Famload Video 999 via the GigaLife App may now enjoy 140 GB open access data – or twice the regular 70 GB open-access data – plus 1 GB YouTube Every Day valid for 30 days for a total of 170 GB for the same price of Php999.
Double Data also applies to other Famload Video and Famload Video Plus denominations, including Famload Video 199, 599 and 1499, as well as Famload Video Plus 199, 599, 999, and 1499.
Smart Bro Pocket WiFi users can also enjoy Double Data on GIGA and GIGA Pro offers via the GigaLife App, including GIGA Video 50, 99, and 299; GIGA Stories 50, 99, and 299; GIGA Video Pro 199 and 999; and GIGA Stories Pro 199 and 199, among others.
The return of Double Data coincides with Smart Bro’s latest push to make it simple for Filipino families to connect online through the Prepaid Home WiFi. An easy-to-use plug-and-play device, the Prepaid Home WiFi provides instant connectivity for the whole family.
To know more about Smart Bro devices and offers, visit https://smart.com.ph/bro.
