INTERACTIVE

Smart service allows 5 users to share broadband access

By Roderick T. dela Cruz

SMART Broadband Inc., a subsidiary of mobile phone service provider Smart Communications Inc., has launched Smart Bro Share It, a service that allows up to five computers to connect wirelessly to high-speed Internet using a single device.

“Desktop computers and laptops have become more affordable, and more families are now able to purchase them for use at home. Smart Bro Share It will allow them to fully and efficiently maximize the use of these computing devices,” said Danilo Mojica, head of Smart’s wireless division.

At the heart of the new service is a wireless router that connects to Smart’s cellular high-speed packet access network then shares the broadband connection with five computers using a Wi-Fi signal.

An initial cash-out for a 12-month subscription is P3,499, which includes a one-time payment of P2,500 for the router plus the first month’s fee of P999.

The Plan 999 subscription provides 90 hours of Internet access at speeds of 2 megabits per second. Usage in excess of 90 hours will be charged 35 centavos a minute.

There were at least 1.3 million broadband Internet subscribers as of December 2008. The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the parent firm of Smart, said it had close to a million subscribers to DSL and SmartBro services. Globe Telecom said it had a broadband subscriber base of 234,000, while the Lopez-owned Bayan Telecommunications counted 75,000 for its DSL service.

Dozens of Internet service providers also provide broadband access, including Pacific Internet of Primeworld Digital Systems Inc. SkyCable and a new player, Thaicom Public Co. Ltd., which recently inaugurated its Manila gateway. Thaicom is behind the IPStar broadband satellite system.