PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are staging a special 5G showcase at the country’s first Smart 5G Stadium City in New Clark City (NCC) in Tarlac to demonstrate to Filipino sports fans the exciting new applications made possible by fifth-generation mobile technology or 5G, in time for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Among the use cases presented at the New Clark City Commercial Center are 4K AI cameras and 360-degree/virtual reality livestreaming, enhanced mobile broadband experience using 5G mobile phones and fixed wireless devices, cloud gaming, mixed reality/augmented reality experiences, 5G-enabled robotics, and ultra-high definition livestreaming via 8K LED panels.
Spectators and fans attending the games at the NCC can visit the Commercial Center to try streaming over 5G basketball games from the Mall of Asia Arena, eSports matches from FilOil Arena in San Juan City, and boxing matches from the PICC tent in Pasay City using 4K AI cameras and track and field events at the Athletic Stadium in NCC via 360-degree/VR technology.
Visitors may also experience for themselves the enhanced mobile broadband speeds using mobile phones and fixed wireless devices from Huawei, OPPO and ZTE; try out cloud gaming powered by Huawei and Ericsson; explore mixed reality experiences such as augmented reality safety systems and augmented reality property development applications powered by Ericsson; and play rock, paper, scissors, or hockey with 5G-enabled robots. Samsung’s 8K LED panels have also been set-up for ultra-high-definition livestreaming.
“We are happy to work with the government in bringing our cutting-edge solutions closer to more Filipinos. This showcase at the 30th SEA Games is a good opportunity to demonstrate how technologies powered by 5G can enhance the ways Filipinos live, work and play,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT chairman and CEO.
Also at the showcase are PLDT-Smart executives Senior Vice President and Head of Enterprise Juan Victor I. Hernandez, Chief Technology and Information Advisor Joachim Horn, and officers from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee.
“This is another milestone in our 5G journey. Last year, we fired up our first 5G base station in Clark and launched the first Smart 5G Cities. This year, we launched the first Smart 5G Campus in Ateneo, and the first Smart 5G Lifestyle Hub in Araneta City. Now, we’re bringing 5G technology to sports fans, right here at the SEA Games,” said Smart President and CEO and PLDT Chief Revenue Officer Alfredo S. Panlilio.
The Smart 5G showcase is open to the public until Dec. 11.
Connected New Clark City
PLDT and Smart have deployed their fixed and wireless networks in New Clark City as part of preparations for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Aside from rolling out fiber infrastructure and cell sites, Smart has also augmented its capacity and coverage in key areas around the NCC in anticipation of the heavy influx of crowds during the competition. The NCC hosts three key areas: the Athletic Stadium, Aquatic Center and Athletic Village.
PLDT-Smart is the official telecom partners of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
These network expansion activities in NCC are part of PLDT-Smart’s broader efforts to improve customer experience nationwide. As of September 2019, Smart has increased the number of LTE base stations on its network to about 21,700, while PLDT has expanded its fiber footprint across the country to around 307,000 kilometers. PLDT’s fiber infrastructure also supports Smart’s mobile network by providing high-capacity links to its base stations.
These efforts are supported by a stepped-up capital expenditures program estimated at P78.4 billion in 2019.
