01 September 2025
Smart Communications, the wireless subsidiary of PLDT, has launched 5G Standalone (SA) technology in Iloilo City, in the Western Visayas region. This milestone marks the beginning of a broader nationwide deployment of 5G SA across the Philippines.
The upgrade in Iloilo City significantly doubles the capacity for 5G users and introduces advanced features such as network slicing, which allows dedicated bandwidth for data-intensive applications like gaming and mission-critical business services.
Smart also revealed that it is collaborating closely with partner smartphone manufacturers to increase the availability of 5G SA-compatible devices in the market.
“This is not just a pilot; it’s the full launch of the latest technology,” said Anastacio ‘Boy’ R. Martirez, Chief Operating Officer of Smart. “Growing up in West Visayas, I wanted this region to be among the first to experience the full power of 5G Standalone.”
Smart initially launched 5G SA in Makati City in 2021, but has since focused on expanding 5G coverage through non-standalone (NSA) deployments to accelerate network rollout.
Smart plans to roll out 5G SA nationwide over the next two years as part of its ongoing network modernization programme.
