Smart leads wireless broadband mart for 7th year

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications remained the leader in the local wireless broadband market for the seventh straight year as it topped the 1.6-million subscriber mark, data from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) showed.

Nearly half a million more Filipinos have turned to Smart for their mobile wireless (plug-it) and fixed wireless (home) broadband needs compared to its closest competitor.

“We have kept and even improved on our commanding 60 percent share of the market because we strive to keep Smart Broadband subscribers happy and satisfied,” Smart Broadband Internet and data services head Lloyd Manaloto said. “We’re confident that our numbers will only go up because more and more Filipinos are resisting mediocrity so that they can live more with Smart.”

In a similar study conducted by independent research group Philippine Survey and Research Center (PSRC), results revealed that Smart Broadband outperformed its rivals in all fronts in terms of consumer perception.

Surveyed were 1,800 males and females aged 13 to 60 across all socio-economic classes from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao during the first quarter of the year who viewed Smart as the superior brand when it comes to image, product quality (consistent speed, fast Internet, signal coverage, reliability, and signal strength), customer service, and pricing.

Manaloto expressed bullishness that Smart will be able to further capitalize on the public’s clamor for better mobile Internet service as the company, along with parent firm PLDT, wraps up its network modernization efforts.

Among the hardware upgrades in the P67.1 billion endeavor are the installation of powerful Multi Radio Access base stations capable of offering mainstream 2G, 3G, and new technologies such as High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) and Long Term Evolution (LTE), depending on market demand.

HSPA+ and LTE are fourth generation (4G) wireless broadband technologies capable of download speeds of up to 84Mbps and 100Mbps, respectively.

Smart is the only wireless services provider in the Philippines with a working LTE network.

“Smart has always been the number one choice and soon, we will be the only choice as we take mobile broadband into newer and greater heights,” he said. “We are the only network in the country that is ready to meet the demands of the future,” Manaloto added.