Integrated telco PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit, Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), have partnered with USAID, the University of the Philippines (UP), and other stakeholders to launch the country’s first Open Radio Access Network (RAN) Laboratory.
Open RAN allows telecom companies to use hardware and software from different vendors instead of relying on a single provider. The setup is expected to help telcos cut costs, improve flexibility, and enhance network efficiency.
Debbie Hu, head of Wireless Network at Smart, said the facility will support PLDT and Smart’s efforts in “technical capability development, testing, research, and collaborative studies essential in paving the way for future innovations.”
The laboratory, located at UP Diliman in Quezon City, was established to drive research, training, and testing of Open RAN technology in the Philippines. Representatives from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), USAID’s Better Access and Connectivity (Beacon) Activity, and the Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA) joined PLDT and Smart officials in the unveiling.
PLDT and Smart have been involved in Open RAN trials since 2023, completing multiple proof-of-concept tests to assess the technology’s viability. The new laboratory builds on those efforts, providing a dedicated space for further exploration and collaboration.
The launch also included a visit to PLDT and Smart’s Technolab in Makati City, where partners observed existing telecom lab setups that will serve as a model for the new facility.
PLDT and Smart are strong advocates of Open RAN Laboratory’s Request for Information (RFI) to help shape the future of Telecoms technology, specifically for Radio Access Networks, in the country. The Group was also deeply involved in defining the lab’s architecture and design and ensuring that its foundation is strong, innovative, and doable. PLDT and Smart also assisted in identifying the requirements for the Lab setup, which has been pivotal in bringing the USAID Beacon and AORA vision to life.