Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. have ramped up the expansion of fifth generation (5G) roaming services in over 20 markets through partnerships with global telecom operators.
PLDT Inc. wireless unit Smart has teamed up anew with global communications technology firm Vodafone to launch 5G roaming services in Germany, Qatar, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
With this, Smart now has presence in 27 key markets through partnerships with 38 telco operators — including Luxembourg with Proximus, Oman with OmanTel and Italy with TIM, among others.
“Our massive rollout for Smart 5G roaming supports Smart’s goal to be world-class in digital innovation and customer service. These advances are translated into carefully crafted roaming data plans to support our customers’ passions, as soon as international travel resumes. At the end of the day, making things simple through technology is at the heart of the Smart brand promise,” said Mary Alice Ramos, Smart vice president and head of international roaming.
Smart prepaid and postpaid roaming customers in Germany, Qatar and the UK can enjoy 5G roaming speeds using their Smart 5G SIM and 5G-capable device with its GigaRoam plans for P999.
Smart said its 5G network — the country’s first, fastest and nationwidest — now has more than 4,000 sites across the Philippines, enabled by PLDT’s most extensive fiber infrastructure at more than 511,000 kilometers.
This fiber infrastructure also supports its Long Term Evolution network, which now covers 96 percent of the population from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi, Smart added.
Meanwhile, Globe has partnered with 25 telecom operators to expand its roaming services in 21 markets in preparation for the travel industry’s gradual recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Globe recently sealed deals with the largest telco operators in the following locations to give customers travelling in these countries access to 5G roaming services: Vivacom in Bulgaria, Viettel of Vietnam and China Mobile of China. By August, it will also partner with Tele2 of Sweden and Vivo of Brazil.
Globe has 5G roaming services in seven countries in Asia, six countries in the Middle East, six in Europe and it also has presence in Canada and US.
“We continuously build partnerships with telcos from all over the world so we can provide our customers with better data roaming experience at affordable costs, wherever they may be,” said Coco Domingo, Globe vice president for postpaid and international.
Globe said 5G can be experienced through its roaming promos such as roam surf 399 for postpaid and prepaid subscribers and its new call and text add-on roam surf Plus. Roamers only need to ensure that they are within Globe’s 5G partner locations and are using 5G-enabled mobile devices or handsets.
Globe said its partnerships with select globally renowned telco operators will allow their subscribers who visit the Philippines to enjoy 5G roaming as long as they are using 5G-enabled phones in 5G locations.
