SMART Communications Inc. continued to offer faster mobile Internet speeds versus its only competitor, but Globe Telecom Inc. still ranked as the top mobile provider with the widest coverage, data from a crowdsourcing analytics firm showed.
Based on its recent analysis, Open-Signal data showed Smart won in the 4G speed game with an average download speed of 13.02 Mbps, while competitor Globe posted an average 4G download speed of 7.34 Mbps.
Globe, however, took the top spot in terms of 3G download speed, posting an average speed of 2.7 Mbps versus Smart’s 2.34 Mbps.
Combined, Smart dominated the speed game with an average speed of 7.5 Mbps, an “impressive” 29-percent growth from six months ago. Globe registered an average download speed of 5 Mbps, about 14 percent higher than its previous record.
“We haven’t seen much change in our 4G download speed metric for either operator, but overall download speeds have risen considerably, a trend we tracked closely,” the report read.
In terms of 4G availability, Globe’s network was a little bit more pervasive than Smart’s. Globe’s availability score was at 67.79 percent, about 4 points higher than Smart’s 64 percent.
“Globe’s lead in 4G availability has shrunk considerably. In our latest test period, Smart closed the gap in 4G availability to less than 4 percentage points. Smart’s growth in 4G reach has been quite phenomenal lately,” the report read.
The report comes ahead of today’s public consultation for the selection process for the third telco player. The said initiative will officially start the crafting of the final terms of reference for the so-called beauty contest for the new major player.
The third telco, seen to be named by December and expected to start offering services in mid-2019, is viewed by many as a catalyst that will shake up the overall telco landscape in the Philippines.
Competition is expected to further heighten come its inception, marked by higher quality of services and more affordable prices.