PLDT's wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has received an overall score of 785 out of a maximum of 1,000 points for its mobile broadband coverage, user download speed and latency in the Philippines, in a certificate report commissioned from global benchmarking company umlaut, now part of Accenture. This is the third consecutive year that Smart has received high scores for their network.

“These results are a testament to our unrelenting network improvement initiatives, as we continue to strive to deliver world-class service to our customers nationwide. We aim to persistently achieve these milestones each year as proof that we deliver consistent customer experience wherever our customers are. This means that whether they are in Batanes, Metro Manila or Jolo in Mindanao, our customers can access and enjoy our services,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT Inc and Smart Communications President and CEO.

“As more Filipinos pivot online, there is even higher demand for a reliable network which can enable them to communicate with loved ones, run their businesses, sustain their hybrid work set-ups, support online learning for their children and allow them to participate in e-commerce. With our continuous fiber, LTE and 5G rollout, PLDT and Smart are in the best position to serve these needs,” Panlilio added.

The score includes Smart’s performance in terms of mobile broadband coverage, download speed, and latency, which refers to the time it takes for data to make a round trip through the network.

The extensive analysis, 808 million samples from 1 million users were tested and measured between July and December 2021.

Smart’s mobile network has been repeatedly recognized since 2019. In 2020, in conferring its assessment alongside other citations, umlaut noted Smart's progressively improving network even with the impact of COVID-19.

This level of performance is underpinned by Smart's mobile network, which supports the growing mobile needs of its 3G, 4G/LTE and 5G subscribers from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi. As of end-2021, Smart has deployed around 7,200 5G base stations. Supporting Smart’s mobile network is PLDT’s extensive fiber infrastructure, which is at 743,700 kilometers as of end-December.