Smart Telecom To Launch A New Home-Base Broadband System Dubbed Volterra

Telecom news ladies and gentlemen, hot on the heels, Smart is up to introduce an upgrade to their existing Smart Bro system which promises faster internet data connection for home broadband! Its codenamed Volterra for time being, a pretty catchy name which actually relates to a complex mathematical algorithm with a wide range of applications.

In the digital world, this system is enhanced as a Digital Pre-Distortion Solution for Wideband RF Power Amplifier Linearization. The adaptive digital pre-distortion solution it presents extends the linear range of power amplifiers, and in combination with crest factor reduction, enables RF power amplifiers to be driven harder and more efficiently while meeting transmit spectral efficiency and modulation accuracy requirements. I know these words were horrifying being too technical, but in simple terms, it's just a mere tweak to the existing 3G and CDMA signal technology of Smart to make them perform faster than ever before.

Faster connectivity results to, yes, you got it right, higher price and so Smart will introduce a new price bundles with it to compensate. Fret not my budget restricted friends, the current packages will not be scrapped, Volterra is just an add-on to the existing offers, targeted to data hungry and can-afford consumers.

No words yet from the company as to how fast this new system is, the price of its packages, the covered areas, nor the official launch date. But one thing is for sure, Smart will take the Broadband war to the next level and I salute them for doing so.

Interesting events up ahead ladies and gents, braise yourself.

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Things to Consider before Getting a PLDT myDSL Broadband

As promised, another explosive posts is due today and it’s a straight from the bottom opinion and advised that I can share to everyone not that I had a grunge with PLDT at the moment but on the grounds of truth as a subscriber.

1. The connection is slow compared to the competition. I have used Smart Bro before, a sister company of PLDT and you can really see point blank the difference in the speed. Count the speedtest in and you get the validation you need. I think it’s high time for the company to consider increasing their bandwidth speed. There closest competitor is now offering 512kbps for their basic package though the latest offering the company for new subscriber is similar to the latter but I do hope they will include current subscribers.

2. The package is expensive because with the offered speed of 384kbps (only 200+ in reality), you pay PhP990 as compared to the plan 799 offer of Globe Wimax/Canopy with a maximum speed of 512kbps.

3. You get to pay services that you don’t need, for instance, a landline that I consider obsolete on personal level or home use since mobilephones is the mainstream of communication nowadays. Even the business establishments now prefer mobilephones over landline because it’s more portable to use.

4. The Watchpad service bundled on the package is a big joke. Who would ever want to watch a video stream on a 386kbps it offers. It’s like watching a stop motion video.

5. Lacks package personalization like Globe offers to its subscribers. They even encourage users to personalized packages to their taste so they won’t pay things that they don’t need.

6. Abysmal online supports system. Take for example, you forgot your password for Watchpad, the page doesn’t offer a password recovery system via email, instead you have to call a telephone support to do so. What if you’re not at home and a PLDT phone is nowhere to be found?

7. As mentioned in my article yesterday, the company is inhumane and inconsiderate when it comes to payment of bills. Unlike the competition where they offer at least 3 months grace period, PLDT doesn’t give any consideration on the matter. Would a multimillion company be hugely affected with the nonpayment of subscriber’s bill for a month that they would cut their internet right away for not doing so? Be reasonable sometimes!

So there you go, the important reasons you need to consider before getting PLDT myDSL. I'm leaving it up for the users to decide wither the package fits their needs or not.

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PLDT myDSL's Take On

As promised, PLDT myDSL underwent thorough assessment under my critical eye. I had measure its speed, observe its stability and its befitting overall package. My evaluation is base on a 10 day period with speed tested via speedtest, stability in comparison to Smartbro's residential base antenna and the overall package it offers.

Well... as far as I had observed, its a mix bag, it has some advantages and disadvantages and I will point it one by one as I go along.

Speed, one of the most important aspect in internet connectivity, the PLDT myDSL was not as fast as I expected it to be. Speedtest measured it below the SmartBro with general download of only 0.44Mb per second compared to 0.51Mb per second of Smart Bro while the general upload is only 0.12Mb per second compared to 0.24Mb per second of the later. Ping is 77ms over 148ms of Smart. This was really surprising because I thought myDSL would beat SmartBro hands down because its cable base with all those new technology.

But don't get me wrong here, myDSL allows you to surf web pages easily and watch youtube videos normally with loading delays just like SmartBro's. It only matters on download and upload of files. According to the PLDT representative I have talk to, I can increase the speed of my connection by subscribing to a higher package. Not a good idea on my part, I can only afford the 990 package.

Another important aspect of internet connectivity is Stability and PLDT myDSL championed this area with flying colors. Since the first day of my connection, I haven't encounter any crush or disconnection from the service compared to SmartBro which had crushed 3 times cutting the connection for more than 30 minutes during the same period and a day with no connection at all which I suspect could be due to bad weather we had this past few days. I believe SmartBro connection is very receptive to weather condition being antenna base compared to the very secured cable based myDSL.

And last but not the least, overall package. The PLDT myDSL offers more on the table compared to the antenna base SmartBro. Aside from PLDT being safer because you don't have to worry about rooftop antenna falling down during storm, it also offers more like unlimited landline that you can enjoy province wide, and Watchpad, a video treaming service featuring TV channels and movies. I didn't find the watchpad helpful though on the connection speed of Plan 990 because its slow and more often than not delay and chappy reception.

And so the final verdict? PLDT myDSL rules big time. First and foremost, I don't think there is a big difference in the surfing experience between the two, I got the same impression and work capability. Second, stability, I couldn't stand the erratic connection of SmartBro, makes you feel a loser since your paying huge amount of money yet you wont be able to connect to the internet for days sometimes. Thirdly, the landline, I may not have use of it at the moment rather than calling Tool FREE and business landline numbers but its very convenient in general sense. Last but not the least, its cheaper by 9 pesos.

In this regards, PLDT myDSL topples SmartBro hands down! So if your confuse as to which one of this internet connection to get, read to aloud, take on PLDT myDSL.

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My Internet Broadband Crisis!

You probably have notice that I don’t update my blog much lately, that’s because I lost my internet connection, tragic but true. We recently transferred to a house which is a dead zone for Smart Broadband signal and it’s just unfortunate that I didn’t check it first before the move, now I suffered the consequence. I was wondering why there were still dead zones nowadays specially with Smart claiming as the largest network in the country with the widest coverage, are they really being truthful to this claim or just merely bluffing? The area is even at the heart of the town next to a major city so it’s a dreadful refute.

Anyways, upon trying to find ways to overcome this unfortunate situation, I have inquired for several options and gathered informations. First up, the Smart Bro Wireless USB is now offered with unlimited surfing which is still offered at PhP999 same to that of the antenna base but it will be very much dependent on the Smart signal in the area. For instance, my place has a sparse signal for Smart and I have to go outside the house to get 3 bars at least, this would mean that the Smart Bro Wireless suite will definitely lag in the connection. My area has no 3G as well so it’s merely dependent on 2G or GPRS which is fringing slow when I tried it with my mobilephones so it’s merely nothing. I don’t know if it will be different when using a laptop, never tried it before, good though that it’s unlimited, time won’t matter.

Smart Bro also have a Share It option with unlimited surfing for PhP999, this time the kit is bundled with a router so you can share it with other WIFI devices, unfortunately router can only pick up HSPA which is a 3.5G signal, meaning, I can’t use it here in my area having only 2G for disposal. This bundle is only usable within the city area.

I have also inquired at Globe Telecom and they have a broadband bundle called Tattoo which is a USB wireless internet connection same to that of Smart. Globe has a full signal in my area but same to that of Smart, it only thrive on a 2G signal which would also mean slow connection and worse of all, they don't have an unlimited surfing so it’s very hefty. I don’t know what Globe is thinking before coming up with this offer, it’s as good as dead compared to Smart’s, hilarious! c”, No wonder why they always comes second , there not to smart enough to compete! Globe should fire all their marketing team, hahaha.

To sum this up, my best option is to get the Smart Bro Wireless USB, it might not be as fast as my old connection but at least it’s still unlimited surfing and time won’t matter. I might have a problem with the signal but I’ll find a perfect area around the house to get a solid one. I have to scrabble a 24 month locked in period though, a major upset, it would have been best if it has none.

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