Smart Communications and McDonald’s Philippines have partnered for the third year to provide free WiFi access for students who need a place to study after school hours.
The ‘McDonald’s Night Classroom’ project, which ran from March 28 to May 31, converted unused party rooms in 60 participating McDonald’s stores nationwide into learning spaces for teachers and students. The project was a continuation of the McDonald’s Classroom initiative that started in 2020.
Smart installed Smart WiFi in McDonald’s stores and provided Smart Bro Pocket WiFi units in other venues, enabling Night Classroom participants to connect online.
More than 40,000 students and teachers benefited from the project, which aimed to provide a safe and conducive learning environment outside their schools.
“McDonald’s has always been a safe and trusted space to create feel-good moments for all — whether you’re a family celebrating a birthday, an employee getting their coffee fix before work, or a student looking for a place to pull an all-nighter. Students have already been treating McDonald’s as their go-to place for meetings or study sessions, so the McDonald’s Night Classroom is our special way of supporting them with their schoolwork,” said Oliver Rabatan, McDonald’s Philippines vice president and chief marketing officer.
“We recognize the huge role of mobile technology in making education more accessible and bringing the world of learning to one’s fingertips. This partnership allowed us to work hand in hand to create connected and safe spaces for learning and help students and teachers achieve academic success,” said Anton Agustin, Smart AVP and head for consumer WiFi & mobile advertising.
Smart is the first and only Philippine mobile operator to win Ookla’s Best Mobile Network award in Q1-Q2 2022 and Q3-Q4 2022. To get this rare and prestigious recognition, Smart won both the Fastest Mobile Network and Best Mobile Coverage awards within the same reporting periods.
As of end-March 2023, Smart’s 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G network covers 97% of the country’s population.
To learn more about Smart’s programs and services, follow its official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, or visit its official website at smart.com.ph.
In the photo (from left): Ashley Santillan, McDonald’s Marketing Director; Michael Dungca, McDonald’s Local Store Marketing Manager; Fidel Balbieran, McDonald’s Local Store Marketing Director; James R Jorge, AVP and Head of Smart Broadband and Consumer WiFi; Anton V. Agustin, AVP and Head of Smart Consumer WiFi & Mobile Advertising; and Martin N. Cervantes, Manager of Smart Consumer WiFi & Mobile Advertising.
