Local telcos are continuously improving their infrastructure to improve the country’s mobile internet speed. And as mobile technology progresses, so should your mobile device.

Do you still remember when 3G was made available in the Philippines in 2006? It was a game changer, because it introduced us to video calling before Skype was a thing and enabled us to browse desktop websites on our mobile phones. But that was 11 years ago, and technology has evolved.

What was fast before is already slow in comparison to what’s new today. If you’re still using a 3G phone, you’re depriving yourself of a better internet experience. It’s now time to upgrade to LTE (Long-Term Evolution), also known as 4G.

If you’re going to jump to LTE, you can check out Smart’s fastest LTE network in the Philippines. According to the latest survey from OpenSignal, Smart is ahead in terms of 4G LTE download speeds with an average of 10.55Mbps or over 3Mbps faster than the competition.

Not only that, Smart is currently re-equipping their cell sites to use low-frequency bands like 700MHz and 850MHz. The use of such bands allows signals to better penetrate walls of houses and office buildings. This means we get better indoor coverage than before. Also, cell towers equipped with lower bands have a wider reach, extending service even to the outskirts of a town, for example.

Smart continues to expand their LTE coverage nationwide — not just in major cities. The plan is to give more than 90 percent of the country’s population access to Smart’s LTE network by end of 2018. And hopefully by then, we’ll also transition to more widespread LTE-Advanced. It’s a promising future to expect, so you better upgrade today.

How to upgrade to LTE?

The first step is to get an LTE phone. Most of the flagship smartphones fully support LTE including the new low-frequency bands. Don’t worry, fast mobile internet doesn’t have to be expensive because there are affordable LTE phones that are available in the market for as low as PhP 2,488.

When choosing your next phone, it is important to invest in a device that will work best with your network’s frequencies. For the best possible mobile data experience, Smart recommends LTE phones that are compatible with the 700MHz band.

Some examples of 700MHz-compatible phones which are available in the market today are:

• iPhone 8/8 Plus
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8
• Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+
• Huawei Nova 2i
• OPPO F5

But having an LTE phone is not enough. An LTE phone should have an LTE-ready SIM card inside. If you’re still holding on to your old SIM card, it’s time to have it replaced with a new one. The upgrade is free and you can still retain your existing number, even if you’re on prepaid. We all know how important it is to stick to a single mobile phone number.

Not sure if your SIM is already LTE-capable? If you’re a Smart user, you can do a quick check by texting SIMCHECK to 5832. If you’re not yet on LTE, you can upgrade for free at any Smart Store.

If you have an LTE phone with a new LTE SIM card, you can enjoy the best possible mobile internet experience in areas covered by LTE. Make sure you adjust your phone’s network settings with LTE or 4G as the preferred network type.

SEE ALSO: LTE-A Explained

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This feature was produced in collaboration between GadgetMatch and Smart Communications.