Smart launches new data package for TNT

MANILA, Philippines - The wireless unit of PLDT Inc. has launched a new data package for its value prepaid brand TNT to respond to the rising usage of digital services and drive further growth in mobile data revenues.

Smart Communications Inc. said the new data package called TNT Babad Apps would enable TNT subscribers to easily access and use popular mobile applications such as Facebook, Messenger, Twitter, Viber, WeChat, Instagram, Snapchat, Wattpad, Youtube, Clash of Clans and Clash Royale for three days for only P10.

While TNT has been traditionally the value brand of Smart for voice and SMS, it is now putting more focus on addressing the growing appetite for digital services.

“Providing our subscribers with affordable, relevant data services that are tailor-suited to their needs is our No. 1 priority.  This new TNT offer fits perfectly with our existing portfolio of mobile data packages,” Ariel Fermin, executive vice president, and head of consumer business for both PLDT and Smart said.

Following the recent launch of other affordable data packages such as Giga Surf 50 which provides 1 GB valid for three days at only P50, and All Out Surf 30 which covers 300 MB data, free Facebook as well as texts to all networks and 30 minutes of calls to Smart, TNT and Sun subscribers for two days at P30, Smart expects the TNT Babad Apps to provide a further boost to the increasing data usage of subscribers.

As of the first-half, Smart’s mobile data revenues reached P8.1 billion, up 56 percent from P5.2 billion in the same period a year ago.

Mobile data now accounts for 27 percent of Smart’s total wireless data and broadband revenues for the period, up from 20 percent a year ago.

Fermin said the growth in Smart’s mobile data business is a result of improved monetization of data services as subscribers are now consuming more mobile content and data services.

“Building on the momentum of our strong mobile data performance and our recent rebrand, we have unboxed our innovative suite of offers that aim to change the way Filipinos connect and optimize their digital life. We expect all these efforts to enable and accelerate further data adoption and stimulate usage, and ultimately sustain our leadership as the mobile data network of choice of Filipinos,” Fermin said.

Over 50 percent of Smart, TNT and Sun subscribers currently use smartphones.

Amid growing demand for data services, PLDT and Smart are beefing up their network capacity.

The PLDT group is in the midst of a three-year network build-out that includes the expansion of its 3G, and 4G/LTE capacity and coverage as well as the rollout of next stage LTE network technology via carrier aggregation.

While the group initially allocated P43 billion worth of capital expenditures for the expansion of network capacity this year, it recently raised the amount to P48 billion to cover even the utilization of new frequencies it gained access to after acquiring half of San Miguel Corp.’s telco business in May.

“We are investing heavily in our network build-out since superior digital customer experience can only be delivered when you have an extensive and reliable network,” Fermin said.