Batanes, Tawi-Tawi now linked to wireless broadband Internet

Residents of the capital towns of the country’s farthest provinces can now enjoy high-speed Internet broadband connection without the need for physical cable or fixed telephone lines as Smart Communications Inc. announced the availability of its Smart Wi-Fi service in Basco, Batanes and Bonggao, Tawi-Tawi.

Smart Wi-Fi offers fixed wireless broadband connection that is up to twice the speed of a dial-up connection, making surfing the Web and chatting online faster and easier. The service was soft-launched in selected provincial areas.

"The launch of Smart’s fixed wireless broadband services in the remotest capital towns of the country is a symbolic milestone for us. We hope that this new service will provide a welcome boost for Internet usage, especially in areas of the country that have lagged behind," said Napoleon Nazareno, Smart president and chief executive officer.

Basco is the capital town of Batanes, the northernmost province of the Philippines known for its rugged but scenic coastline. It is nearer to Taiwan than to the nearest point in the country.

Bonggao, meanwhile, is the capital town of Tawi-Tawi, located at the country’s southernmost tip in the middle of the Sulu seas.

Although Internet connection via satellite technology is available in both areas through local Internet service providers (ISPs), Basco and Bonggao still suffer from inadequate Internet facilities because of their geographical locations and the relatively high subscription cost of satellite connection.

Smart Wi-Fi utilizes existing Smart cellsites in the areas where it has been rolled out. It is made possible by connecting a computer to a Smart Wi-Fi antenna that is installed outdoors with a direct "line-of-sight" to the nearest Smart cellsite with the strongest possible signal association.

Unlike dial-up Internet service or fixed broadband, the Smart Wi-Fi service does not require telephone or cable lines.

Rolando Peña, head of Smart’s network services division, said, "We hope that with Smart Wi-Fi, we can serve the untapped demand for Internet usage in both urban and rural areas. Wireless technology is ideal because it can be easily deployed and is not dependent on existing wired infrastructure."

Smart Wi-Fi is initially available in selected provincial areas at an introductory monthly subscription rate of P788 (regular price of P988 after Sept. 30).

To get connected, a subscriber must have a personal computer with the following system specifications: Pentium III processor or higher, 128 MB of RAM or higher, Ethernet/ LAN Card, at least 10GB of hard disk space, and Windows 98, 2000, XP, Linux or Macintosh operating system.

For inquiries, get in touch with Smart Wireless Centers or call *3888 toll-free from a Smart cellphone.