Network intelligence and connectivity insights firm Ookla has named PLDT’s wireless unit Smart Communications (Smart) as the Philippines’ Fastest and Best Mobile Network in its latest report.

Smart joins the other 20 mobile operators in the world to have been given the distinction of Best Mobile Network. To earn this citation, a mobile operator must lead in two crucial Ookla Speedtest Awards categories: Fastest Mobile Network and Best Mobile Coverage, within the same test period.

In the latest Ookla’s Speedtest Awards covering Q1-Q2 2022, Smart emerged as the “Fastest Mobile Network” with a Speed Score of 62.22, while its closest competitor posted a Speed Score of 32.48. To bag this category, Smart posted a median download speed of 24.26 Mbps and a median upload speed of 6.59 Mbps, while its closest competitor posted a median download speed of 17.47 Mbps and a median upload speed of 6.43 Mbps.

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“Speedtest Awards, presented by Ookla, are an elite designation reserved for the fastest and top-performing fixed broadband and mobile operators around the world,” said Doug Suttles, CEO of Ookla. “It is our pleasure to present Smart with the award for Best Mobile Network in the Philippines. This recognition is testament to their exceptional performance in H1 2022 based on Ookla’s rigorous analysis of consumer-initiated tests taken with Speedtest.”

Smart also dominated the “Best Mobile Coverage” category with a Coverage 794, surpassing its closest competitor’s Coverage Score of 732. The Coverage Score captures both the number of locations in which an operator offers service (its footprint) and the quality of service in each location, explained Ookla in its report.

“Smart’s laser-sharp focus on providing Filipinos with the best customer experience all these years has led to this groundbreaking recognition. We commit to continuously improving our network so we can empower Filipinos with our fastest speeds and widest coverage that enable them to make every moment count and achieve more in life,” said Francis Flores, SVP and head of Consumer Business Group – Individual at Smart.