Byline: EMMIE V. ABADILLA

Being the carrier with the biggest network and cellular subscriber base, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) ranked number one in the governmentas Third Generation (3G) "beauty contest" this week, gaining the largest radio frequency allocation a" 15 megahertz (MHz)

Among the companies that applied for a 3G license, Smart ranked highest, garnering a perfect score of 30 based on the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) 30-point grading system designed to gauge the capability of aspiring telco operators to provide 3G services.

The NTC grading system measured the capability of prospective operators to massively roll-out 3G network in at least 80 percent of the countryas towns and cities in the next five years; interconnect with other 3G and mobile operators; and share network and facilities with other providers in areas where demand limits service provision to just one operator.

"We will fully utilize these 3G frequencies to provide the best quality service to our customers," according to president and CEO Napoleon Nazareno.

Already, Smart has started to deploy its 3G mobile network nationwide. But now that the NTC gave it the choice of the best frequency spectrum, Smart can deploy faster and offer the highest quality 3G service to subscribers, he noted.

"We are in 3G for real," Nazareno pointed out. "We have been testing a number of 3G cell sites and can now service customers on a trial basis in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. Whatas more, we have already ordered the network facilities needed to establish nationwide 3G coverage at the shortest possible time."

Furthermore, he is confident that "We will repeat the rapid roll-out that we accomplished in deploying first our analog and then our GSM network infrastructure."

3G is shorthand for the next generation of mobile communications networks running on the WCDMA (wireless code division multiple access) platform. This technology allows for faster data transmission speeds from 114 kbps up to 2 Mbps, making possible high-speed data communications and mobile multimedia services such as video conferencing, audio streaming and mobile Internet.

Just last month, Smart demonstrated its readiness to offer a full-range of 3G services in a live demo at an international conference in Cebu during the Inter-working Roaming Expert Group (iREG) of the GSM Association.

The company not only showcased a live video conference call on a Smart-toSmart network, but also completed an international roaming call between Smart and Telecom Italia Mobile. It also sampled breakthrough services such as broadcast streaming and simultaneous voice and messaging.

Apart from preparations covering hardware and equipment, Smart is also putting into place necessary support systems such as billing and applications.

But actually, Smart had started preparing for a seamless transition to 3G as early as five years ago, Nazareno admitted.

In December 2000, in cooperation with Nokia Networks.

Smart conducted the first successful 3G video call in the country in the presence of NTC officials. Using experimental equipment, this test call recorded data transfer rates of up to 216.9 kbps.

In the same year, Smart started installing new GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) base station equipment that not only substantially increased the capacity of its digital mobile phone network, but also made it easier to install 3G system in the future.

"Early on, we have been taking concrete steps in preparation for the next generation wireless technologies," explained Rolando G. PeA[+ or -]a, head of Smartas network services division. "The base station equipment weave installed has the added advantage of being upgradeable to support the operations of a 3G platform."

"The installation of this modular GSM equipment neatly fits into Smartas overall 3G preparations. Now that the 3G equipment is available, the 3G capability of these base stations can be readily activated, simplifying the roll-out of our 3G infrastructure," Nazareno concluded.(EVA)