Mobile services provider Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), the wireless arm of telecommunications company PLDT, has launched its 5G roaming service in South Korea in partnership with KT Corp., Korea’s largest telecommunications company.

Smart prepaid and postpaid subscribers who are roaming in South Korea can enjoy 5G data roaming speeds using their Smart SIM and 5G device. Smart roamers can maximize the service by subscribing to GigaRoam plans while overseas. All they need to do is to go to roam.smart.com.ph while they are abroad. GigaRoam plans start for as low as P999 for a 5-day data roaming plan.

Smart’s recently launched GigaRoam packs provide more data allocation with extended validity and are designed to give roamers seamless connectivity while abroad. This year, as the world prepares to ease travel restrictions amid the worldwide vaccine rollout, Smart plans to launch more 5G roaming partnerships to provide world-class roaming services to its travelers.

Smart’s continuous rollout drives adoption of 5G-enabled devices

PLDT-Smart ramps up 5G investments in 2021 to improve customer experience

“5G, the latest evolution of wireless communications, brings our customers closer to an even higher level of customer experience in terms of enjoying the high-definition video, playing esports, and using new digital services,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, Smart Communications president and CEO and PLDT chief revenue officer. “With international partnerships such as this, we continue our journey toward bringing world-class service to the Filipino people.”

“South Korea remains to be a top roaming destination for Filipino business and leisure travelers and 5G roaming speeds mean faster upload of travel blogs and videos, faster download speeds for K-Drama videos popular with the Filipino market, and seamless data connectivity for work-productivity apps,” said Alice Ramos, VP for International Roaming and Consumer Business at Smart.

KT Corp. is leading the new era of innovations in one of the world’s most connected countries with 5G, Big Data, Cloud, IoT, Blockchain and other transformative technologies. KT launched the world’s first nationwide commercial 5G network in April 2019, after showcasing the first trial 5G services at the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in February 2018.

KT and Smart are members of the Conexus Mobile Alliance, which is composed of 9 member-telcos in Asia who are at the forefront of delivering innovative, customer-friendly services for customers of member operators who frequently travel on business. CONEXUS is currently chaired by Katrina Luna-Abelarde, president and CEO at PLDT Global and head of International and Carrier Business. Despite roaming being the worst-hit telecom division by COVID-19, Smart and CONEXUS have continued to lay down roaming service improvements for international travelers.