Introduced on Thursday, the Smart ZTE Blade A75 5G is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, offering premium features such as a high-definition camera and a wide display associated with more premium models.
It’s priced at P5,450, which is almost half the price of higher-end phones with similar features, said Alex O. Caeg, head of Smart consumer wireless business.
Big picture
5G, the successor to the widely used LTE or 4G standard, is several years old but has yet to gain widespread adoption.
Part of the reason is the lack of affordable handsets, which are still priced at about P10,000 on the low-end.
According to Kristine Go, senior vice president for Smart’s consumer mobile business, roughly 10 percent of all handsets in the country are 5G devices, suggesting there is plenty of room to grow.
Network decongestion
Network capacity is a finite resource, so Smart is also aiming to make operations more efficient by shifting users to 5G, which is just 35 percent utilized, from the current 4G workhorse.
Parts of Smart’s 5G network are also built on a 4G layer, which means it has the ability to switch users between the two standards to optimize the service quality for each subscriber, especially during peak usage times.
“One of the preferred strategies is to utilize [5G] during peak hours. We try to allocate resources on that particular cell site to whatever is needed by the subscribers,” PLDT and Smart deputy network head Roderick Santiago said on Friday.
“If there are more users [with 5G capable devices], then they will all be using the 5G bands so that their experience will be better,” he added.
Back to the new phone
Smart executives on Friday said the phone offers impressive features for its price point.
It has a 50-MP AI camera with Bokeh Depth for vivid images, including RAW Super Night Mode.
The phone also features a 6.6” HD+ 120Hz display with DTS Audio for sharp visuals and clear sound. It is powered by 8GB RAM and 128GB storage with a metallic and glass mirror finish.
Final words from management
“In the same way that Smart ushered in the massive adoption of GSM and LTE technology through budget-friendly offers, we now want to bring 5G to all Filipinos so they can level up their mobile experience,” said Caeg.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
