Smart Communications Inc. sees its fixed wireless business as a “bright spot” given the increased demand for connectivity amid the pandemic.
Jane J. Basas, the company’s SVP and head for its consumer wireless business, said the company expects to further grow the fixed wireless business this year, after booking a P1.1-billion revenue for the said segment in the first half.
“Fixed wireless is a bright spot, as demand for our Prepaid Home WiFi service grows, pushing our daily activations on an upward trend,” she said.
In a nutshell, fixed wireless refers to WiFi modems that connect multiple devices to Smart LTE but have to stay plugged into power.
“The power of fixed wireless is that it is ‘plug and play’—no need for installations and wires. It is a ubiquitous solution that enables us to provide broadband connectivity wherever we have 4G/LTE coverage. For Smart, this means we are able to provide fixed wireless connectivity to 96 percent of the Philippine population from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi,” Basas said.
Its customer base for the said segment, she added, is growing “by as much as 200 percent month on month.”
“With more Filipinos going digital in the New Normal—including families gearing up for another school year of taking online classes and continuing their work-from-home setup—there is need for significantly more data to accomplish daily tasks and stay productive online,” she said.