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| Smart Wins 5 Opensignal Awards including Best in 4G Coverage Experience and Best in 4G Availability |
The recent report by OpenSignal covering the period of July 1 to September 28, 2020, with 1,186 million independently analyzed measurements from over 336,000 devices, noted Smart’s impressive performance in providing subscribers a 4G coverage on an operator’s network.
"In simple terms, 4G Coverage Experience measures the mobile coverage experience in all the locations that matter most to everyday users — i.e. all the places where they live, work and travel. It considers all the areas that Opensignal users visit, the portion of locations that 4G is available to them, and locations that more users visit have higher importance to them," said Sam Fenwick, Opensignal Senior Analyst.
Opensignal also said that while both Smart and Globe Telecom recorded positive development in terms of 4G Availability, Smart managed to strengthen its lead over its competitor.
“Smart has extended its lead in this measure of the mobile experience. Our Smart 4G users saw the proportion in time they spent connected to 4G services rise by 3.5 percentage points, taking the operator above the 85% mark and increasing its lead over Globe,” the mobile analytics firm added.
Opensignal furthered that Smart users had better access to 4G in more locations in the Philippines and for more times than Globe users since Smart was awarded the firm’s 4G Coverage Experience and 4G Availability awards.
Speed and mobile video experience are also among Smart’s strengths in its services, Opensignal highlights, adding that Smart users consistently enjoy the fastest download speeds and smooth Internet-connected video playbacks in the Philippines.
See Also: PH Notches ‘Impressive Improvements’ in 4G Availability, Download Speeds - OpenSignal
Fenwich also shared that since Opensignal started analyzing Video Experience in the Philippines in March 2019, Smart has won every Video Experience, Download Speed Experience, and Upload Speed Experience awards.
"Smart’s lead in Video Experience and Download Speed Experience has increased since our previous report — the operator’s scores in these two metrics were 16.6 points (43.9%) and 4.1 Mbps (55.2%) higher than those of Globe," Fenwick noted.
Opensignal said that Smart’s improvements in its services are even more remarkable, especially amid the challenges brought about by COVID-19.
"Despite 2020’s challenges, our Smart users’ download speeds have risen by 8.1%. This is extremely impressive, given the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic," Fenwick added.
Smart is also leading the country’s 5G adoption, as the telco has successfully rolled out an additional 279 5G base stations as of Q3 of 2020, in line with its thrust of boosting its 5G commercial services all over the country.
Among the key areas Smart has launched its 5G services include Boracay, Iloilo, Davao, Makati Central Business District (CBD), Bonifacio Global City CBD, Araneta City, Mall of Asia Bay Area, North Avenue in Quezon City, Taft Avenue in Manila, Ortigas CBD, New Clark City in Pampanga, EDSA, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Taguig, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Paranaque, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Navotas, San Juan, and Pasay.