Leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc (PLDT) and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc (Smart) are collaborating with international and local telco industry stakeholders and the academe in advancing the adoption of Open Radio Access Networks (RAN) in the Philippines.
Marking the latest milestone in this initiative, PLDT and Smart joined partners from USAID’s Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON) Activity, University of the Philippines (UP), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA) and other telcos in unveiling the country's first Open RAN Laboratory in UP Diliman, Quezon City.
Present during the unveiling of the laboratory were USAID BEACON Chief of Party John Garrity, USAID Mission Director Ryan Washburn, UP Chancellor Atty Edgardo Carlo Vistan II, DICT Undersecretary for Infostructure Management, Cybersecurity and Upskilling Jeffrey Dy, Philippine Space Agency Director General Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr., USAID Asia Bureau Economic Growth and Private Capital Advisor Kofi Owusu-Boakye, and PLDT and Smart representatives led by Smart Head of Wireless Network Strategy and Architecture Radames Vittorio Zalameda and Head of Network Innovation and Laboratory Lennart Olaivar.
Experts from Viavi Solutions led the laboratory capability demonstration, while the UP Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (UP EEEI) also presented their plans regarding training initiatives and operations in the laboratory, which is envisioned to be a "center of collaboration on training and research, workforce development, and performance testing" of Open RAN in the Philippines.
From L-R: Smart NSTO supervisors Joel Perez and Ervir Cabiling, Smart Head of Network Innovation and Laboratory Lennart Olaivar, Smart Head of Wireless Network Strategy and Architecture Radames Vittorio Zalameda, DICT Asec Philip Varilla, Rogelio Singca, Director for Access and Transport Technology Strategy at Globe Telecom, Melle Lamboon, ICT Lead, USAID's BEACON, Richard Matias, Technical Director at Asia Open RAN Academy, and Francis Mangaliman of Smart
Open RAN will potentially allow telcos like Smart to mix and match hardware and software from any vendor by allowing the different components of the radio network to be disaggregated with the use of open-source software and general-purpose hardware. The technology's benefits include helping Telcos save on cost, enabling operators to be more flexible and agile, and making their network more intelligent and efficient, which will, in turn, pave the way for the best customer experience and more innovative services.
"We are proud to participate and contribute in the planning and design of this facility and to provide technical advice during the building process of this innovation lab, which we believe will contribute significantly to advance open, interoperable, and disaggregated network technologies in the Philippines," Smart Wireless Network Head Debbie M. Hu said, adding that the lab's systems will be made available for PLDT and Smart to support the companies' technical capability development, testing, research, and collaborative studies essential in paving the way for future innovations.
"We at PLDT and Smart are proud to be supporting the launch of this Open RAN Laboratory, driven by our shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and enhancing the lives of the Filipino people. We extend our deepest gratitude to our partners at USAID and UP for making this state-of-the-art facility a reality," Zalameda said.
"Here, the principle of 'failing fast and succeeding faster,' a mindset our Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan consistently instills in us, proves to be entirely achievable, even in the intricate world of 5G wireless technology," Zalameda added.
From L-R: Smart NSTO supervisor Ervir Cabiling, Smart Head of Network Innovation and Laboratory Lennart Olaivar, Smart Head of Wireless Network Strategy and Architecture Radames Vittorio Zalameda, Smart NSTO manager Francis Mangaliman and Smart NSTO supervisor Joel Perez
PLDT and Smart have been steadfast supporters of USAID and AORA for years, contributing to the creation of course contents and topics, sharing our knowledge and expertise through talks and lectures, and empowering students and professionals alike--a testament to the PLDT Group's commitment to education and growth of the industry.
Among the highlights of this collaboration was the team's tour of PLDT and Smart's Technolab in Makati City, which showcased the main components of a Telecom Lab, demonstrating PLDT and Smart's capabilities and serving as baseline and model for USAID and AORA in putting up its own Technology Lab for Open RAN.
PLDT and Smart's support for the Open RAN Laboratory's Request for Information (RFI) has been instrumental in shaping the future of Telecoms technology, specifically for Radio Access Networks. The Group was also deeply involved in defining the lab's architecture and design and ensuring that its foundation is strong, innovative and doable. PLDT and Smart also assisted in identifying the requirements for the Lab setup, which has been pivotal in bringing the USAID BEACON and AORA vision to life.
PLDT and Smart have been at the forefront of the country's foray into Open RAN and other new and disruptive technologies. In 2023, Smart was the first in the Philippines to successfully explore and test an Open RAN proof of concept (PoC). Later that year, the Group completed Phase 1 and 2 of the PoCs, while Phase 2 Stage 3 was successfully completed in 2024, further strengthening and encouraging the adoption of the technology.
PLDT and Smart's support for innovation contribute to the Group’s endeavors to narrow the digital divide, provide connectivity to all, and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) particularly SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. These also reinforce the Group’s support for the Government's overall digitalization thrust.
