Smart advances mobile satellite tests

MANILA, Philippines —  Wireless giant Smart Communications Inc. has made progress in its effort to provide every town with a cellular signal, this time testing the viability of satellite-to-device service for critical uses like disaster response.

Smart yesterday said it has completed another pilot activity for its mobile satellite, continuing to test the reach and limits of the solution in bringing digital connectivity.

For the latest pilot activity, the telco brought the satellite-to-device trial to Batangas to see how it could be maximized for emergency response.

The test simulated disaster scenarios in areas where land-based infrastructure may be temporarily disrupted. Smart saw the feasibility of using satellite-to-device service to disseminate emergency alerts, such as calls for evacuation, supporting government response during critical situations.

Smart wants to enter the satellite-to-device market to provide connectivity access in areas where it is difficult to build cell sites. Likewise, the telco sees the innovation as an infrastructure boost to strengthen disaster response.

Menardo Jimenez Jr., chief operating officer of Smart’s parent PLDT Inc., said Filipinos rely on communication services for disaster resilience.

“Our mission at PLDT is to be there for all Filipinosv — whether they are talking to family abroad, or requesting assistance from a rooftop in the middle of a calamity,” he said.

Beyond its disaster function, Smart’s satellite-to-device service aims to reach subscribers in some of the farthest corners of the world, such as fishermen and seafarers at sea.

Prior to the Batangas trial, Smart tested satellite-to-device capability in Catanduanes and Ilocos Norte. The tests looked into how satellite signals complement terrestrial assets in remote towns.

Smart teamed up with Lynk Global Inc. in testing mobile satellites. Lynk operates low earth orbit satellites — what it calls cell towers in space — to beam internet onto the ground, providing access to communication services wherever the subscriber is.

Smart, however, is playing catch up to telco-to-tech giant Globe Telecom Inc., which activated a similar service earlier this year in partnership with Elon Musk’s telco Starlink.

Globe is offering its satellite-to-device service to connect the remaining four percent of Filipinos who are yet to be reached by cell sites.