In its latest report, which covers Q3-Q4 2018, Smart
achieved a Speed Score TM of 15.57, with average download speeds of 17.86 Mbps
and average upload speeds of 8.61 Mbps, based on 2,186,540 user-initiated tests
taken with Speedtest® on LTE-capable devices in the Philippines.
On the other hand, PLDT achieved a Speed Score of 18.57,
with top download speeds of 52.28 Mbps and top upload speeds of 55.95 Mbps. The
fixed network award is based on 27,221,777 customer-initiated Speedtest
nationwide for the same period.
The Speed Score is a measure that takes into account both
upload and download speeds.
“We are pleased to award Smart with the award for Fastest
Mobile Network and PLDT for the award for Fastest Fixed Network in the
Philippines. This recognition is testament to their exceptional performance in
Q3-Q4 based on Ookla's rigorous analysis of consumer-initiated tests taken with
Speedtest," said Jamie Steven, Executive Vice President at Ookla.
These latest figures are improvements from the Q1-Q2
scores, when Smart posted a Speed Score of 14.98 and PLDT achieved a speed
score of 17.31.
“This award is proof that our continued investments in
our network to improve the mobile internet experience of our customers across
the country are paying off,” said Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT and Smart senior vice
president for Network Planning and Engineering.
“Improved connectivity has helped Filipinos keep abreast
with ever-evolving times, empowering individuals, businesses and government,”
Tamayo added. “In addition to our network investments, we have also undertaken
LTE migration efforts to assist customers in upgrading to LTE through SIM
replacement programs and by partnering with device manufacturers in making LTE
devices more accessible,” Tamayo said.
PLDT, Smart ahead in key cities
Drilling down, initial data included in Ookla’s country
reports showed Smart still posting big leads in key cities like Quezon City,
Makati and Manila, for example, while PLDT is still way ahead in Quezon City,
Pasig and Manila.
In Quezon City, for example, Smart posted a Speed Score
of 23.09, more than twice that of the competing network. This reflects the
results of the major network upgrade activities that Smart recently undertook
in the city, including the activation of LTE-Advanced and carrier aggregation.
For mobile, Speed Score incorporates a measure of each
provider’s download and upload speed to rank network speed performance. Tests
used to calculate the Speed Score exclusively come from ‘modern devices’, which
are devices capable of connecting to the market’s fastest, generally available
technology.
For fixed, Ookla assesses the best network speeds
attained across a given network, accounting for tests that are taken on various
Speedtest applications that connect to a fixed network, including tests taken
on mobile phones over a Wi-Fi connection. Each top carrier accounts for at
least 3% of the sample size in the geographic area.
Investment in network transformation
The awards come as PLDT and Smart ramp up their
integrated fixed and wireless network expansion. PLDT has committed historic
levels of resources to support network transformation which is estimated to
amount to US$ 5 billion from 2016 to 2020. In 2018, capital expenditures were
at P58 billion.
Alongside Smart’s ramped-up Long Term Evolution (LTE) and
LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) roll out, PLDT is also aggressively rolling out its fiber
broadband service, which also supports the stepped-up deployment of the mobile
network by providing high-capacity links for cellular base stations.
To date, Smart has also already fulfilled its commitment
to the National Telecommunications Commission to cover at least 90 percent of
cities and municipalities to address the growing demand for broadband
infrastructure and internet access within three years from the grant of the use
of frequencies by the NTC in 2016.
Meanwhile, PLDT operates the country’s most extensive
fiber infrastructure at 221,000 km and its fiber coverage has now reached 5.75
million homes as of end of the 3rd quarter of 2018, while its total capacity of
2.25 million ports has more than doubled from end of 2017.
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