Smart notes improving mobile internet speed

PLDT Inc.’s Smart Communications said investments in 4G had led to better mobile internet speed, citing crowdsourced data from OpenSignal.

And while the study showed that the Philippines needed to do more to catch up with regional neighbors, the telco giant said gains thus far signaled that services were improving.

Smart noted that its 4G or LTE download speed averaged 12.7 Megabits per second in the fourth quarter of 2017. This was up 38.5 percent over the previous year.

“These results are proof that our multiyear investments in network improvements are paying off,” Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT and Smart senior vice president for network planning and engineering, said in a statement.

“By continuously expanding our LTE networks, we are bringing a faster and more responsive network to our customers across the country,” he added.

Smart also highlighted its performance versus main rival Globe Telecom, which had, in recent years, captured a large slice of the country’s mobile segment.

Citing the OpenSignal survey, Smart ranked No. 28 while Globe ranked No. 40.