PLDT's wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has partnered with the local government of Baliuag in Bulacan for the connectivity needs of their students.
Under this partnership, Smart has turned over Smart Bro Pocket WiFi units for use of students from Baliuag Polytechnic College, Bulacan State University (Bustos Campus) and National University of Baliuag to connect to their online classes.
The student-recipients were selected by the LGU, prioritizing the indigent students and those who need them the most.
"We are grateful for this continued partnership between the municipality of Baliuag and Smart. We are thankful that you have provided our students with pocket wi-fi so they can continue learning despite the pandemic," said Baliuag Mayor Ferdie Estrella, who led the turnover ceremonies attended by Smart representatives George Loyola, Senior Area Development Manager and Gilbert Noblejas, Customer Development Manager.
Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart, said this is among Smart's initiatives to inspire young people to keep pursuing their passion and purpose.
“Smart is in a unique position to address the evolving needs of our customers. We are doing our best to connect as many as we can, so we continue to provide solutions like pocket wi-fis to students who are most in need. This initiative with the Baliuag LGU is just the latest in these efforts to equip our students with the connectivity they need to be able to keep learning in the New Normal,” Basas said.
This initiative is part of Smart’s “Live Smarter for a Better World” campaign highlighting 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. This initiative also aims to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG #4 of providing quality education.
Smart Bro Pocket WiFi units are powered by Smart LTE, the country’s fastest mobile data network according to third-party analytics firms Ookla and Opensignal. In Baliuag, 100% of Smart's sites are already on LTE.
To date, Smart's mobile network covers 96% of the population from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi. Enabling this is PLDT's fiber infrastructure, the country's most extensive at over 478,000 kilometers as of end-March 2021.
