Ookla: PLDT, Smart improve Speed Score in second half of 2019

MANILA, Philippines —  PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. have once more been found to be the country's fastest fixed and mobile internet networks. They continue to set the pace for internet speeds in the country, according to Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis.

The results are based on analysis by Ookla of tests taken with Speedtest^®, covering the second half of 2019. Ookla said that Smart posted a Speed Score^TM of 18.13, with average download speeds of 20.42 Mbps and average upload speeds of 9.87 Mbps. This is based on 1,822,401 user-initiated tests taken with Speedtest^® on LTE-capable devices in the Philippines for the period Q3-Q4 2019.

Speed Score is a measure that takes into account both upload and download speeds.

Meanwhile, PLDT achieved a Speed Score of 25.03, with top download speeds of 62.87 Mbps and top upload speeds of 80.07 Mbps. The fixed network award is based on 29,505,821 customer-initiated Speedtest nationwide for Q3-Q4 2019.

These latest figures are further improvements from PLDT and Smart’s results from the first half of 2019, when Smart posted a Speed Score of 17.07 and PLDT achieved a Speed Score of 20.44.

“With millions of tests taken using Speedtest every day, Ookla has developed a robust and comprehensive view of worldwide internet performance. It is our pleasure to recognize Smart as the fastest mobile network and PLDT as the fastest fixed network in the Philippines based on our rigorous analysis. This award is a testament to Smart and PLDT’s exceptional performance, as experienced by their own customers, in Q3 and Q4,” said Jamie Steven, executive vice president at Ookla. 

“The results of these consumer-initiated tests provide further proof that we are achieving our goal of progressively improving the service quality enjoyed by our customers. Aside from expanding our coverage, we are enabling our customers to have the best experience enjoying entertainment or learning new skills through online video, playing mobile games, or boosting their businesses through social media and online commerce," said Mario Tamayo, senior vice president for Network Planning and Engineering at PLDT-Smart.

Digital 2020 report

These results come just as another study shows how important internet and digital services have become to Filipinos. 

According to the Digital 2020 report, the Philippines once again tops global rankings in terms of average time spent daily on the internet at 9 hours and 45 minutes—well above the global average of 6 hours and 43 minutes.

The report also shows that the Philippines also leads in terms of average time spent using mobile internet daily, with the average Filipino user logging on to the internet via their mobile phone for 5 hours 11 minutes a day—also above the global average of 3 hours 22 minutes.

Fastest network in key cities

Initial data included in Ookla’s country reports showed Smart still posting big leads in key cities like Quezon City, Makati and Manila, for example, while PLDT is still way ahead in Quezon City, Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro.

In Makati City, Smart posted a Speed Score of 26.95, more than twice that of the competing network. This reflects the continuous network upgrade and expansion activities that Smart undertook in the city, including the deployment of LTE-Advanced and carrier aggregation.

For mobile, Speed Score incorporates a measure of each provider’s download and upload speed to rank network speed performance. Tests used to calculate the Speed Score exclusively come from ‘modern devices,’ which are devices capable of connecting to the market’s fastest, generally available technology.

For fixed, Ookla assesses the best network speeds attained across a given network, accounting for tests that are taken on various Speedtest applications that connect to a fixed network, including tests taken on mobile phones over a Wi-Fi connection. Each top carrier accounts for at least 3% of the sample size in the geographic area.

Investment in network transformation

The latest Ookla awards come amid years of sustained investments in the expansion and upgrade of PLDT and Smart’s network. It also affirms findings of a recent report by global benchmarking company Umlaut, which is widely regarded as the de-facto industry standard. Umlaut awarded Smart the Best in Test award in October 2019, and lauded Smart for having the best and widest 4G/LTE coverage, and fastest upload and download speeds.

The Germany-based company also cited Smart for providing the best network performance during the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in December.