As it gears up to be 5G-ready by 2020, PLDT Inc. mobile subsidiary Smart Communications has announced the success of ‘live’ 5G network trials in partnership with equipment vendor Nokia. The pair achieved transmission speeds of 2.5Gbps using 100MHz with latency of just one millisecond for the first time in the Philippines, saying the new technology ‘opens up exciting possibilities for Internet of Things (IoT) applications for Filipinos, particularly in healthcare and smart cities’. Nokia Manila Technology Center and Smart’s innovation team will collaborate to conduct joint 5G research for the development of 5G technology. Nokia said that the trial utilised content created with the Nokia OZO virtual reality (VR) camera, to showcase the possibilities enabled through the broadcast of 3D 360 VR content. The demo also leveraged the Nokia AirFrame Data Center platform to support high performance and low latency requirements. Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman and CEO of PLDT and Smart, said: ‘We are excited to work with Nokia in conducting cutting-edge research and development for 5G. This is a key part of our efforts to transform the PLDT and Smart network into the country’s most future-ready data infrastructure delivering a wide range of gigabit digital solutions.’