Smart exceeds own 5G roll out goals in the Philippines during 2021
Smart Communications has revealed that its in-deployment 5G network now extends to 6,400 base transceiver stations (BTS), surpassing its own target of 3,800 for 2021.
Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT Inc and Smart Communications President and CEO said, “Off the back of the huge number of 5G base stations that we built this year will be a very targeted rollout of 5G in 2022.”
He added: “We will be more granular next year, doubling down to ensure that our efforts match the demand and the availability of handsets in the market.”
In addition, rolling out the fifth-generation technology in more areas in the third quarter, such as Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, Amadeo in Cavite, Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental and Valencia City in Bukidnon,
Accordingly, the continuous buildout of 5G by the telco allowed it to reinforce its dominance in the network, expanding its lead over rivals as the Philippines’ fastest and most reliable 5G network.
Globe telecom claimed to have 860,000 5G customers in July out of a total subscriber base of 81.75 million, while Smart said it had 520,000 5G users at the end of June, growing to 800,000 5G users in October, according to Open Signal.
Lately, Smart also achieved wins in all seven categories of the first 5G Experience Report for the Philippines by independent mobile analytics firm Opensignal, including outright wins in 5G Download Speed, 5G Availability, 5G Upload Speed, 5G Video Experience, and 5G Games Experience.
Therefore, Smart’s total base stations reached 72,600 as of end-September, allowing it to provide combined 2G/3G/4G/5G to cover 96 percent of the population from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi, said a press release from the mobile division of PLDT.
Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, approved Smart to be the Philippines’ fastest and most reliable 5G network for Q1-Q2 2021, with median download and upload speeds that are twice faster than its closest rival. It has also cited Smart as the fastest mobile data network in the Philippines for the fourth consecutive year.