Philippines’ wireless services provider Smart Communications is launching commercial LTE services on August 25. The announcement comes after a year of LTE test deployments conducted by PLDT’s wireless subsidiary in various parts of the country.

Operator’s LTE deployment was made possible by the PLDT Group’s P67.1 billion network technology refresh program which has replaced the base station equipment in all of Smart’s over 9,500 base stations nationwide with 4G-ready facilities. This program has also strengthened the PLDT Group’s fiber optic networks and overseas fiber optic cable systems to ensure that high-speed broadband services offered via LTE will be fully supported.

Several LTE sites located in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Boracay have already been active months prior to the commercial launch.

Smart expects its LTE network to deliver data wirelessly at speeds of up to 42 mbps. According to operator, LTE rollout in the Philippines will not only lead to the best mobile broadband experience ever but would also play a key role in making available Internet even to the remotest parts of the country.