NSN deploys WB-AMR technology at Smart

Nokia Siemens Networks has won a deal from Smart Communications, Philippines' wireless services provider and a wholloy owned subsidiary of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. As part of the project, Nokia Siemens will deploy Wide Band Adaptive Multi-Rate (WB-AMR) functionality onto Smart's 3G and 2G network which enables it to offer high-definition (HD) voice services to subscribers in Mega Manila including the Bulacan and Rizal provinces.

The upgrade process is simplified by requiring only software updates for the network, and results in subscribers of Smart Communications benefiting from improved voice call quality. The companies had conducted pilot of this new feature in Makati, Taguig and Rizal.

"The upgrade can be compared to the difference between AM and FM radio. High-definition voice makes it easier for callers to distinguish commonly misunderstood sounds such as 's' from 'f', 'm' from 'n', and 'p' from 't'," said Nokia Siemens Network.