PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications have successfully tested Radisys Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), a high-speed, fiber-like wireless technology seen as a viable alternative to fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) in areas where fiber rollout is challenging.
Led by PLDT’s Network Strategy and Architecture team, the initiative forms part of the telco’s broader efforts to improve internet coverage and user experience nationwide. The point-to-multipoint FWA system functions similarly to a cell site, using a central base node to connect with remote radio nodes at customer premises. This setup allows for rapid deployment and delivers fiber-like internet speeds over the air.
During the proof-of-concept (POC) test, the technology achieved speeds of up to 945 Mbps download and 929 Mbps upload, successfully supporting data-heavy applications such as video streaming and social media.
PLDT views the Radisys FWA as a game-changer for bringing fast internet to underserved or hard-to-reach areas, aligning with its ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide. The technology has already been proven in markets like India and is now being tailored to the Philippine context.
“This solution offers a simpler, faster way to deploy high-speed connectivity—without extensive civil works,” said Lennart Olaivar, assistant vice president at PLDT.
The FWA test follows PLDT’s 2023 milestone of being the first in the Philippines to trial 50G Passive Optical Network (PON) technology.
As of March 2025, PLDT operates the country’s most extensive fiber infrastructure, spanning over 1.2 million cable kilometers, supporting Smart’s network which covers 97 percent of the Philippine population.
