With an Internet-ready Pentium III computer, I want to hook it to the Internet. But I’m postponing it, for I’m not ready financially. I’m planning to get one, a prepaid broadband internet service on September, after we acquired and transfer to a new house in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan through Pag-IBIG housing loan.

I’ve learned that after putting mobile phone in the hands of more than 32 millions in the Philippines, Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) is now democratizing access to the Internet. They launched prepaid wireless broadband service (SMART Bro Prepaid), giving many Filipino easy surfing in the cyberspace, using emails and blogs, searching information and mingle on social media sites with affordable sachet pricing, nationwide coverage and easy loading. I think this is a great opportunity for me to connect to the Internet.

For only P10, I can access the Internet for 30 minutes, using a small USB device called Smart Bro Plug-It that can be hooked into a desktop PC or laptop. The Smart Bro Plug-It is actually a radio receiver that connects the user to Smart’s nationwide wireless broadband network.

The Smart Bro Prepaid kit is priced at P4,500, well within the reach of the broad market. The kit already includes the SMART Bro Plug-it USB modem, a SIM card, and P30 worth of free broadband load which can be readily used for up to 1 hour and 30 minutes of high-speed Internet access. Smart Bro Prepaid can connect to SMART’s HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) network at speeds up to 384 kbps, allowing for an easy online experience.

Smart Bro Prepaid requires no monthly fees and I don’t need to submit any document to avail of the prepaid broadband kit. I just have to go to any Smart Wireless Center, Smart Bro agent or Smart Bro accredited dealer and easily get my own Smart Bro Prepaid broadband kit. Furthermore, I can easily load my account in over 1 million Smart Load outlets across the country or use any Smart Bro Load Card. Smart Bro load go for as low as P30 and Smart Bro Load Cards are available in P100 and P300 denominations.

Internet access has become a must for any country’s development. It has become a basic toll for communication, education, commerce, social interaction, governance, and the delivery of social services. The Philippines, however, has one of the lowest Internet penetration among its peer countries in the region. Unserved demand for Internet access is estimated at 15 million connections.

With low-priced new and used personal computers now in the market, affordable access is seen as the solution to the unserved demand for Internet connection. Broadband services will bring new technologies and compelling content to the market.

With the introduction of the first prepaid broadband Internet service in the Philippines, I am expecting that this will bring more innovation and players in the broadband Internet service. And in no time, it will make the Internet our new cellular.

Tags: Internet access, prepaid broadband Internet service, Smart Bro Prepaid