The country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) now have another option for their connectivity needs as PLDT SME Nation launched last Friday the new Smart Biz LTE wireless broadband service. The package comes with a standard data plan with speeds reaching up to 42 Mbps; an industry-grade Wi-Fi router/modem; and free installation.
Specifically, the Smart Biz LTE Wi-Fi router/modem accepts up to 45 simultaneous users in a 30 to 50 meter radius. It supports major LTE bands, including the 700, 1800, and 2100 MHz frequencies. Its interfaces include dual antennas with MIMO, two LAN Ports,and a tamper-proof SIM slot. Its steel housing can be affixed onto most surfaces, including table tops, walls, ceilings, and even vehicles such as bus and public transports, using either screws or double sided tape. Lastly, it requires 7.5 to 32 V of power through a DC port.
Smart Biz LTE monthly pricing is as follows: PHP 1,899 for 5 GB of data allocation; PHP 2,349 for 13 GB; and PHP 4,100 for 21 GB—all locked into a 24 month contract. Subscribers can also choose to add up to two SmartCams to their plan per month, with each costing an additional PHP 250. After a plan’s data volume has been consumed, subscribers will be charged at a rate of PHP 1 per MB. Once they reach the anti-bill shock ceiling of PHP 7,099, service becomes unthrottled non-stop surf.
“Smart Biz LTE is your ultimate upgrade from the usual pocket Wi-Fi entrepreneurs use for connecting to their business while on the go,” shared Nephele Denosta, AVP and head of SME Nation wireless marketing. “This new wireless broadband offer answers entrepreneurs’ need for stable, high-speed data perfect for stationary or mobile assets in order to effectively oversee and grow their businesses,” she added.
Along with the launch, PLDT SME Nation also announced that Bryan Benitez McClelland, founder and proprietor of socio-ecological enterprise Bambike Revolution Cycles, will be the service’s new ambassador. Bambike is a company that manufactures carefully crafted bicycles made of natural materials such as bamboo and abaca. Their bikes are used in ecotours around the walls of Intramuros. Crafting the bikes are community workers based in Victoria, Tarlac.
“Bambike is dedicated to social and environmental stewardship through making the greenest bikes in the planet. Our vision as a company is to not only live our passion for bicycles, local tourism, and love for Mother Earth but also, create impacts to the betterment of our community,” said McClelland.
On being the brand’s new ambassador, McClelland commented, “I consider PLDT SME Nation as my most trusted and reliable business partner and I am honored to be representing a product I believe in. Powered by Smart Biz LTE, our company was able to provide livelihood to an underprivileged community like Victoria, Tarlac. Further, this technology enabled us to improve our operational efficiency by creating a more collaborative working environment even remotely at Bambike, and help us operate on a larger scale. With this, I stand with PLDT SME Nation in inspiring and providing more and more Filipino enterprises the knowledge and resources to make it big in their businesses.”
In photo above: (from left) Josh Montecillo, PLDT SME Nation broadband and business solutions head; Bryan Benitez McClelland, Bambike Revolution Cycles founder and proprietor; Patrick Tang, PLDT SME Nation vice president for operations and KaAsenso micro-business marketing; and Nephele Denosta, PLDT SME Nation AVP and head of wireless marketing.