'The rates will be set in a way that will encourage usage of the service,' said Smart public affairs head Mon Isberto, in an exclusive interview with Computerworld Philippines.
Isberto said Smart has been busy rolling out its 3G network since December 2005, immediately after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) granted them a license.
'After two months we already have 114 networks deployed nationwide or about 60 percent of cities in the Philippines,' Isberto said.
3G allows faster data transmission speeds, making possible high-speed data communications and mobile multimedia services such as video calling, video streaming, and high-speed Internet browsing. With 3G, subscribers can exchange volumes of data in the form of audio, video, and graphics.
Isberto did not disclose the exact rates but revealed that there would be additional value in terms of new services such as special content and downloads.
'Smart is launching both on prepaid and postpaid,' he said. 'The bulk of our subscribers are on prepaid, so we want to make this available to our prepaid subscribers as well.'
In a recent press conference, Smart announced a list of its 3G services that allows users to do video streaming (conferencing) and watch TV programs on their existing 3G network.
Smart's 3G content service allows the video viewing of vehicular traffic along major roads in Metro Manila. Last March, Smart deployed five video cameras among its facilities in the metro'monitoring traffic along EDSA, Ayala Avenue, and others.
'That's not the full range of services that you're going to get,' Isberto said. 'Those are all on trial basis and the rates will be announced once the commercial service is announced or launched.'
HSDPA (High-Speed Downloading Packet Access), is a new mobile telephony protocol that Smart is planning to launch in the future. Smart engineers explained HSDPA breaks the 'one megabit per second barrier,' allowing high-speed and high-quality videos.
In February, Smart launched its 3G service for free on a trial basis.
'We're in the process of what we call 'customer education,'' Isberto said. 'Smart is trying to give its customers a chance to test the different 3G services that are now available in the network. These services are video calls, mobile Internet access, Web browsing, and video streaming.'
To use the service, a subscriber with a postpaid or prepaid Smart SIM and a 3G-enabled handset must also be in an area with Smart 3G coverage. A subscriber who has activated his handset for 3G services will see the 3G icon on the screen once in an area with Smart 3G coverage.