Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence, declared Smart Communications, Inc. as the Philippines' Fastest and Best Mobile Network in its latest report.
So far, Ookla has only given the Best Mobile Network citation to 20 mobile operators in the world,.
Smart was the first and only local mobile operator to clinch the award since Speedtest started in 2017.
To earn this citation, a mobile operator must lead in two crucial Ookla Speedtest AwardsTM categories - Fastest Mobile Network and Best Mobile Coverage, within the same test period.
In the latest Ookla’s Speedtest AwardsTM covering Q1-Q2 2022, Smart registered a Speed Score of 62.22, while its closest competitor posted a Speed Score of 32.48.
To bag this category, Smart posted a median download speed of 24.26 Mbps and a median upload speed of 6.59 Mbps, while its closest competitor posted a median download speed of 17.47 Mbps and a median upload speed of 6.43 Mbps.
Smart also dominated the ‘Best Mobile Coverage’ category with a Coverage 794, surpassing its closest competitor’s Coverage Score of 732.
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, explained Ookla in its report.
"Ookla's Speedtest Awards are an elite designation for the fastest and top-performing fixed broadband and mobile operators around the world," says Ookla.
CEO Doug Suttles.
"This recognition is a testament of Smart's exceptional performance in H1 2022, based on Ookla's rigorous analysis of consumer-initiated tests taken with Speedtest," he added.
It's "a huge honor", according to Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT and Smart President. “This aligns with our nation-building efforts as we also support the government’s aspiration to digitalize the country.”
As of end-June 2022, Smart had around 77,100 total base stations nationwide, including around 7,300 5G base stations, to support the growing mobile data needs of 3G, 4G/LTE and 5G customers from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi.