Smart successfully presented its innovative 5G Standalone (5G SA) technology during j-hope’s “Hope on the Stage” concert held at the Mall of Asia Arena on April 12 and 13, 2025, showcasing a notable advancement in mobile network capabilities in the Philippines.
Next-Generation Network Technology
The 5G Standalone technology showcased at the event demonstrates Smart’s commitment to delivering enhanced mobile experiences. The technology allows for “network slicing,” a sophisticated capability that permits the optimization of network infrastructure for specific applications and scenarios.
During the concert, which attracted thousands of attendees, Smart deployed this technology to provide prioritized network experiences even in an environment characterized by high user density and peak network usage. Random concertgoers using 5G-SA-capable handsets experienced impressive download speeds despite the challenging network conditions typical of large-scale events.
To visually signify the deployment of this advanced technology, Smart modified the network identification display on SA-enabled devices to show “J-Hope Concert” on the upper left corner of users’ screens.
Advancing Customer Experience
According to Debbie Hu, Smart Head for Network Operations, “Our groundbreaking Smart 5G SA technology showcase marks a significant leap forward in our commitment to providing Filipinos with a world-class customer experience. This also unlocks a wealth of amazing possibilities and immersive digital experiences meant to enrich the lives of subscribers.”
The demonstration builds upon Smart’s previous initiatives, including the launch of Smart 5G Max and TNT ‘5G Max’ in Taguig City in December 2024. TNT also introduced Max Saya 30, described as the first prepaid data pack with prioritized network capabilities.
Lloyd Manaloto, Head of Smart Prepaid and Postpaid Marketing, emphasized that these developments reflect the company’s understanding of evolving customer needs and their commitment to “bringing the transformative benefits of 5G technology to the fingertips of more Filipinos.”
Real-World Performance
One university student, Elaine, noted the reliability of communications with family members via SMS and Viber, as well as her ability to post videos to social media platforms without interruption. She specifically mentioned the noticeable performance improvement of devices equipped with the 5G SA technology.
Another concertgoer, Nic, a young professional attending the second day of performances, expressed appreciation for the consistent signal strength, contrasting it with previous concert experiences where network connectivity had been problematic.
Enhanced Fan Experience
Smart also enhanced the concert experience for fans through various initiatives. These included an exclusive ticket presale event for subscribers, ticket giveaway promotions, as well as an interactive booth at the venue inspired by j-hope’s “Sweet Dreams” pop-up in New York.
The concert itself featured j-hope performing his solo hits including “Mona Lisa,” “Sweet Dreams,” “More,” and “On the Street,” along with several BTS songs such as “Mic Drop,” “Airplane,” “Ego,” “Silver Spoon,” “Trivia: Just Dance,” and “Dis-ease.”
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Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
