On the basis of Smart’s reinforced mobile network and competitive data offerings, data traffic on the 5G network that is owned and operated by PLDT’s wireless business Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has maintained its growth during the first quarter of the year.
The number of unique 5G devices connected to the network increased by 35 percent from the end of 2021 to more than 1.58 million. As a result, data traffic on Smart’s 5G network increased by 65 percent quarter-on-quarter during the first quarter.
In addition to cutting-edge offers that catered to the evolving requirements of prepaid customers and made it possible for them to experience 5G (such as Giga Video 5G and Giga Video 5G+), Smart’s Signature Plans+ included unlimited 5G data with Netflix in an effort to encourage widespread adoption of the technology.
“We are now seeing encouraging signs of recovery as the economy reopens, with our new offers and 5G adoption driving data usage,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart. “Following headwinds in the first quarter due to Typhoon Odette and the Omicron surge, we are now seeing encouraging signs of recovery as the economy reopens.”
Customers around the country have access to 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G networks from Smart, which has raised its total number of base stations in the country to 76,600 as of the end of March 2022. This includes about 7,300 5G base stations. Smart did this to meet the growth in data traffic. The PLDT fiber infrastructure, which has reached 803,000 kilometers as of the end of March 2022, serves as the backbone for the Smart mobile network.
Smart recently won back-to-back Ookla awards as the Philippines’ Fastest 5G Mobile Network and for delivering the country’s Best Mobile Video Experience across all mobile technologies as a result of its efforts to improve its network. These awards were given in recognition of Smart’s efforts to improve its network. The most recent Mobile Experience Awards were presented by Opensignal. Smart won the most number of citations in these awards, which underscores Smart’s superiority as the Philippines’ fastest mobile network. Among other citations, Smart was recognized for having the widest 5G reach and the best 4G coverage experience.
