SMART Communications Inc. claimed last Sunday it posted the highest-average download speeds for both 3G and LTE in May, citing a report from JP Morgan’s Asia Network Quality.
The study, which cited crowd-sourced data gathered by wireless coverage research firm OpenSignal, showed Smart’s LTE service was the fastest in the country, with average-download speeds of 11.64 mega bytes per second (Mbps) in May.
The same report also showed Smart leading across areas in terms of LTE service, with average download speeds of 12.52 Mbps in Metro Manila, 11.96 Mbps in the Visayas and 9.44 Mbps in South Luzon.
Smart also led in terms of 3G speeds nationwide, posting 2.29 Mbps average download speeds on a country level. Across areas, average download speeds on Smart’s 3G service were at 3.41 Mbps in Metro Manila, 1.74 Mbps in the Visayas and 1.82 Mbps in South Luzon.
“There is still a lot of work to be done, but these test results showed our network-improvement program is making progress. They are a testament to Smart’s commitment to continuously contribute to improving overall speeds in the country,” Smart Senior Vice President for Network Planning and Engineering Mario G. Tamayo said.
Smart is re-equipping its cell sites to use low-frequency bands such as 700 megahertz (MHz) and 850 MHz to provide better indoor coverage.
It is also deploying high-frequency bands like 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz to increase the cell sites’ capacity to handle more calls, texts, and ever-increasing mobile data traffic.
Parent company PLDT Inc. and Smart have committed to make LTE progressively available to 95 percent of the country’s cities and municipalities by the end of 2018.
Tamayo said the group looks forward to providing its subscribers with better indoor LTE and 3G data signal, as well as better indoor 3G and 2G voice signal once its network modernization has been completed.
“With these improvements, our subscribers can live their digital lifestyles to the fullest, using a combination of LTE-ready devices, Smart LTE SIMs and Smart’s newest and fastest network, and be there like never before,” Tamayo said.
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