PLDT HOME Bro has launched Ultera, the Time Division Duplex-Long-Tem Evolution (TD-LTE)-powered wireless Internet connection for the home offering speeds of up to 10 Mbps.
The company utilized about P2-billion capital investments to develop this latest technological advancement, which is the country’s first foray in TD-LTE technology. PLDT HOME Bro Ultera uses a dedicated network with an allocated bandwidth, apart from one used by mobile phones or pocket Wi-Fi modems.
According to an industry data, the Philippines’ TD-LTE network, with over 200 base stations, is one of the largest in the Asia-Pacific region. The expansion in PLDT HOME has allowed the telecommunications giant to reach into more areas while applying new technologies that offer better service, and allow Ultera to deliver unbridled Internet connections.
“The launch of PLDT HOME Bro Ultera is part of our commitment to continuously develop broadband connectivity in the country. Aside from the ongoing roll-out and enhancement of PLDT HOME Fibr and PLDT HOME DSL, the addition of PLDT HOME Bro Ultera to the PLDT HOME roster of services means that we intend to serve more areas, especially those unreached by wired technology,” said Ariel Fermin, PLDT executive vice president and head of PLDT HOME business. “Our aggressive fiber expansion is what allows us to adopt new technologies such as TD-LTE for PLDT HOME Bro Ultera. PLDT’s extensive fiber network, which stands at 78,000 kilometers, remains unmatched.”
The latest ultra-fast Internet connectivity is now available in three plans: Ultera Basic, with speeds of up to 3 Mbps; Ultera Max, which reaches up to 5 Mbps; and the top of the line Ultera Pro, which delivers speeds of up to 10 Mbps. The plans start with an initial cash out of P999 for Ultera Basic, P1,599 for Ultera Max, and P1,999 for Ultera Pro.
PLDT HOME Bro Ultera delivers speeds that are 21 times faster than Canopy and six times faster than WiMax. A new standard for high-speed wireless broadband services for the PLDT HOME, it provides improved Internet connections for a better access to social media, movies, games, and music. Besides, it also has the capacity to support PLDT HOME TVolution, a powerful Android device that turns ordinary TV into an Internet TV.
PLDT HOME has been beta testing Ultera at over 200 pilot sites nationwide early this year. The test was conducted in rural areas where Internet infrastructures are not as developed.
An advantage for customers requiring high-speed connectivity but are unable to have access via hard-wired networks, Ultera is being rolled out in key areas such as Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bataan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Aurora, Cagayan, Abra, and Nueva Vizcaya in Northern and Central Luzon; Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Sorsogon, and Palawan in southern Luzon; Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bukidnon, and Leyte in the Visayas; and Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, and Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao.
The company is also eyeing additional TD-LTE sites in other remote areas to further improve coverage.
