Ookla has awarded Smart Communications as the Philippine winner of the “Best Mobile Network”, “Fastest Mobile Network” for five years in a row, and “Best Mobile Coverage” at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.
Smart is the first and only Philippine mobile operator to be given Ookla’s Best Mobile Network award, an elite designation given to wireless services providers with both the Fastest Mobile Network and Best Mobile Coverage within the same reporting period.
The telco was awarded the Fastest Mobile Network for posting 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.
Meanwhile, to win the “Best Mobile Coverage” category, Smart achieved a Coverage Score of 795, surpassing its closest competitor who had 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.
As of end-September 2022, Smart amassed over 77,200 base stations nationwide, including 7,300 5G base stations and close to 40,000 4G/LTE base stations. Their 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.
Smart also launched its latest tagline “Live More Today”, featuring a powerful new campaign that teaches us to value the present and cherish every moment that matters.
Feature photo (from left): Smart First Vice President Lloyd R. Manaloto; PLDT and Smart Network Head Eric S. Santiago; Ookla Chief Operating Officer Shivani York; and Ookla Chief Commercial Officer Shawn Heidel.