Smart Communications Inc. said it remains the country’s fastest and best mobile network in the second half of 2022 based on the latest report by Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence.
Ookla’s latest report showed Smart was ahead of competitors in terms of speed and coverage scores. Smart bagged the ‘Fastest Mobile Network’ for Q3-Q4 2022 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.
Smart 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 was based on more than 2.9 million user-initiated tests, while the Coverage Award was based on over 3.4 million scan counts.
“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 PLDT chief transformation and customer advisor Emmanuel Lorenzana.
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,” said Ookla chief executive Doug Suttles.
“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,” he said.
Smart deployed 77,200 base stations nationwide, including 7,300 5G base stations and close to 40,000 4G/LTE base stations as of end-September.
Smart’s network covers about 97 percent 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.