PLDT’s wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is still the Philippines’ Fastest and Best Mobile Network Award, according to the latest report by Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence.
After making history as the first and only Philippine mobile operator to win Ookla’s Best Mobile Network award for the Q1-Q2 2022 reporting period, Smart set another record for clinching the award in the firm’s report covering Q3-Q4 2022.
To clinch this rare and prestigious citation, Smart won both the Fastest Mobile Network and Best Mobile Coverage awards within the same reporting periods of Ookla.
Ookla results puts Smart on top
Ookla’s latest report showed Smart ahead of competitors in terms of Speed and Coverage Scores.
- Smart bagged the ‘Fastest Mobile Network’ with a Speed Score of 62.3, while its closest competitor posted a Speed Score of 36.36. To win this category, Smart posted a median download speed of 31.04 Mbps and a median upload speed of 6.8 Mbps, while its closest competitors posted a median download speed of 20.22 Mbps and a median upload speed of 5.13 Mbps.
- The telco also dominated the ‘Best Mobile Coverage’ category with a Coverage 795, surpassing its closest competitor’s Coverage Score of 757. The Coverage Score captures both the number of locations in which an operator offers service (its footprint) and the quality of service in each location, according to Ookla. The Fastest Mobile Network award is based on more than 2.9 million user-initiated tests, whereas the Coverage Award is based on over 3.4 million scan counts.
- Ookla’s report also showed that Smart outpaced competitors in key cities across the country, being the Fastest Mobile Network in Quezon City, Cebu City and Davao City.
“Speedtest Awards, presented by Ookla, are an elite designation reserved for the fastest and top-performing fixed broadband and mobile operators around the world.” It is our pleasure to present Smart with the award for Fastest Mobile Network, Best Coverage which gives Smart a high accolade of Best Mobile Network in the Philippines. This recognition is testament to their exceptional performance in Q3-Q4 2022 based on Ookla’s rigorous analysis of consumer-initiated tests taken with Speedtest” said Doug Suttles, CEO at Ookla.
“These awards continue to inspire us to innovate and deliver leveled-up services to our customers across the country, in our quest to power their increasingly digital lifestyles, foster meaningful connections, and become the telco that our subscribers can truly count on,” said Emmanuel C. Lorenzana, PLDT Chief Transformation & Customer Advisor.
“Our relentless efforts at improving our network have enabled Smart to receive these accolades once again. This year, we will continue to empower Filipinos with Smart’s fastest speeds and widest coverage, and at the same time provide our Smart and TNT subscribers with value-packed offers and awesome experiences. We want to enable our subscribers to live more today and make the most of the moments that matter to them,” said Francis E. Flores, SVP and Head of Consumer Business Group – Individual at Smart.
Underpinning this level of performance is PLDT and Smart’s integrated fixed and wireless networks. As of end-September, Smart had deployed 77,200 base stations nationwide, including 7,300 5G base stations and close to 40,000 4G/LTE base stations. Smart’s network covers about 97% of the population with 3G, LTE, and 5G. It is supported by the country’s most extensive fiber network, which spanned more than 1.09 million kilometers in international and domestic fiber as of end-September.
To continue enjoying Smart’s fastest speeds and widest coverage, subscribers are encouraged to register their SIMs, in line with the newly enacted SIM Registration Law. Aside from launching its online SIM Registration portal, Smart has also ramped up its rollout of assisted SIM Registration booths and touchpoints across the country, including in government-identified remote areas.
