Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) claimed in May that it had activated over 3,000 5G facilities across the country.
Smart’s initial 5G rollout covered Metro Manila, Angeles City, Baguio City, Cavite City, Cebu City, Clark City, and Davao City. Still, it has since expanded to include more remote and mountainous areas, such as Brgy. Linut-od in Argao, Cebu, where dialysis patient Elena Camson can already use telemedicine services.
“When there was still no signal here, I had to go to the town for check-ups,” Camson explained. Linut-od is a 23-kilometer drive from the center of town. Camson, who was diagnosed with end-stage renal illness three years ago, said she used to go to a nearby barrio to hitch a ride to the clinic.
Dr. Stanley Caminero, Argao’s community doctor, whom Camson consults regularly, remarked, “A good network is a big assistance for us, especially for telemedicine.” Patients can consult electronically via Smart 5G instead of traveling to town.
Caminero remarked that 5G allows for the transmission of high-quality video, which will enable doctors like him to grasp what their patients are trying to convey right away. “We can provide our patients with high-quality service and correct diagnosis,” he said.
“As we expand our network across the country, more Filipinos like Elena will be able to benefit from services like telemedicine, which will be enhanced by 5G,” said Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT and Smart’s Head of Technology. “Our rapid 5G deployment is part of our ongoing efforts to update and expand our network, ensuring that we provide our consumers across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with the best data experience possible,” he added.
Customers can now advantage of Smart’s Unli 5G offer across over 3,000 Smart 5G locations nationwide, including Batangas, Bacolod, Boracay, Cagayan de Oro, Laguna, Pampanga, Pangasinan, and Quezon.
Smart has compiled a list of 5G locations across the country, which you can find here.