Smart Communications is the Philippines’ fastest 5G network for the first half of 2021, according to the latest report by Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analytics.
This is the fourth year in a row that Smart is declared as the country’s fastest mobile network. Smart won the Fastest Mobile Network Award with a Speed ScoreTM of 44.70, a big leap from previous year where Speed ScoreTM was at 24.99,
The results of the report were based on 4,949,931 user-initiated tests taken with the Speedtest app in the Philippines for the period Q1-Q2 2021.
Meanwhile, in the newly released Fastest 5G Mobile Award report, Smart notched the top place in the country with a Speed ScoreTM of 204.81, posting median download and upload speeds of 220.66 Mbps and 20.61 Mbps, respectively based on 237,142 user-initiated 5G tests taken with Speedtest in the Philippines for the period Q1-Q2 2021.
Speedtest AwardTM for top providers in speed are determined using a Speed ScoreTM that incorporates a measure of each provider’s download and upload speed to rank network speed performance.
To determine Speedtest Awards winners for mobile networks, Ookla assesses the average of test results taken using Modern Chipsets. Modern Chipsets includes all mobile tests, regardless of connection technology used, as long as they are taken on devices that are identified as being capable of achieving the fastest speeds available in a market. After this filtering has taken place, Speed Score is applied as outlined above to determine the best speeds available in a country.
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This level of performance has been enabled by Smart’s mobile network, including its 5G network, now fired up in more than 4,000 sites nationwide. Supporting Smart’s network is PLDT’s most extensive fiber infrastructure, now at over 511,000 kilometers as of June.
Fastest 5G network in key areas
Initial data included in Ookla’s country reports showed that Smart’s 5G speeds are way ahead in key areas nationwide like Manila, Cebu City, and Davao City, with Smart posting download and upload speeds that are faster compared to its nearest competitor in these areas.
In the City of Manila, for example, Smart’s 5G download speeds are at 268.01 Mbps, with the nearest competition at 81.82 Mbps.
In Cebu City, meanwhile, Smart registered 5G download speeds of 239.03 Mbps where competition is at 99.99 Mbps, while in Davao City, Smart notched 5G download speeds of 209.76 Mbps, whereas competition is at 145.18 Mbps.
All-out government support
According to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the government’s all-out support in expediting the release of LGU permits required for the ramped-up improvement of telco infrastructure has helped increase internet speeds in the country.
As of July 27, 2021, PLDT and Smart have secured more than 25,000 fixed and wireless permits since the government fast-tracked approvals for telco firms last year.
