CLARK FREEPORT – The fastest fixed and mobile networks for 2018 are PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).
According to Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, PLDT and Smart’s speed scores had taken into account both upload and download speeds.
Ookla’s latest report, which covers June to December 2018, Smart achieved a speed score of 15.57 Mbps, 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.
PLDT achieved a speed score of 18.57 Mbps, 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.
“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 Mbps and PLDT achieved a speed score of 17.31 Mbps, he added.
“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 ,” Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT and Smart senior vice president for Network Planning and Engineering, said in a statement on Monday.
“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 pointed out.
PLDT, Smart ahead in key cities
It was learned that the initial data included in Ookla’s country reports showed Smart still posting big leads in key cities like Quezon City, Makati and Manila while PLDT is still way ahead in Quezon City, Pasig and Manila.
In Quezon City, Smart posted a speed score of 23.09 Mbps, more than twice that of the competing Globe 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, Tamayo said.
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 or devices capable of connecting to the market’s fastest, generally available technology.
For fixed network, 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 said it 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.
At present, Smart has already fulfilled its commitment to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) 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 kilometers and its fiber coverage has now reached 5.75 million homes as of end of the third quarter of 2018, while its total capacity of 2.25 million ports has more than doubled from end of 2017.
Ookla is the company behind Speedtest. It is the global leader in fixed broadband and mobile network testing applications, data and analysis. Over ten million tests are actively initiated by consumers each day across all Speedtest platforms, with over 20 billion completed to date. As a result, Ookla has the most comprehensive analytics on worldwide internet performance and accessibility.
Ookla solutions have been adopted by a significant number of internet service providers and mobile carriers worldwide and have been translated into over 30 languages for use by thousands of businesses, governments, universities and trade organizations.
Ookla’s headquarters are located in Seattle, WA with additional offices in Dublin, Ireland.
