Leading integrated telco company PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have reiterated their commitment to deliver reliable, secure and affordable fiber and mobile broadband connectivity to Filipinos across the country.
“Part of our commitment to further elevate customer experience is delivering quality connectivity at price points that meet our customers’ needs,” said Emmanuel C. Lorenzana, PLDT Chief Customer Advisor. “This includes offering a wide range of fiber and mobile packages that enable our customers to sustain their hybrid work set-ups, operate businesses, participate in online learning, stay connected with friends and loved ones, and stream their favorite shows–whether at home or on-the-go.”
Recent independent third-party studies have also shown that PLDT and Smart have consistently delivered topnotch network experience.
PLDT Home remains to be the fastest broadband in the Philippines. The global benchmarking company Ookla® announced that PLDT Home won over all major internet service providers in the Philippines for the fifth consecutive year at the Ookla® Speedtest™ Awards Q1-Q2 2022.
Smart is also the first and only local mobile operator to be recognized as the Philippines’ Best Mobile Network by Ookla. To earn this citation, Smart led in two crucial Ookla Speedtest Awards categories, namely Fastest Mobile Network and Best Mobile Coverage in Q1– Q2 2022.*
To enable their subscribers to maximize these networks, PLDT and Smart are also showcasing value-packed fiber and mobile data offers.
For instance, PLDT Home’s Fiber Unli Plan 1699 (approx. USD 29.62, using USD-PHP exchange rate of USD 1:₱57.36 as of Sept 19) now provides speeds up to 100 Mbps. Eligible customers can also avail of the Easy Speedboost for a minimal add-on of ₱50.00 (USD 0.87) or ₱100.00 (USD 1.74) monthly to upgrade their speeds to as fast as 600 Mbps. Moreover, PLDT Home Fiber Plus plans include three (3) wifi mesh devices and exclusive access to Lionsgate Play. Subscribers may also enjoy convenient access to global entertainment contents from Cignal, NBA League Pass, Viu, and HBO Go.
Meanwhile, Smart’s Double Giga 299 enables subscribers to enjoy 1 GB of data for only ₱4.67 (approx. USD 0.08), its most affordable offer per GB. The Double Giga 299 offers 2 GB of daily app access for a month plus 4 GB of open access data. It has two variants – Double Giga Stories (which includes access to different social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Kumu) and Double Giga Video (which includes access to different video apps like YouTube, Cignal Play, NBA, and iWant)
Comparing these data to global figures, according to cable.co.uk‘s worldwide mobile data pricing for 2022, the average cost of mobile data in the Philippines ranks number 33 out of 233 surveyed countries and is the fifth most affordable in the Southeast Asian region at USD 0.52 per gigabyte.
Meanwhile, the average cost of broadband packages in the Philippines is at USD 44.19 per month, according to data from cable.co.uk‘s worldwide broadband data pricing for 2022, placing the Philippines in the middle at 103rd out of 220 countries. This is also more affordable than the global average package price of USD 57.07.
The PLDT Group continues to invest in its network, having spent ₱518.5 billion for the last 10 years up to 2021. Network-related initiatives made up the bulk of the ₱89 billion spend for 2021. Capex guidance for 2022 is ₱85 billion.
Alongside its investments in its network, the PLDT Group has also invested nearly ₱3 billion in cybersecurity infrastructure in 2021 to safeguard its customers against emerging cyberthreats, vulnerabilities, and other online criminal activities.
With the recent spate of smishing attacks, Smart has also intensified its efforts against malicious text messages that aim to defraud the public. In addition to blocking SIMs that send ‘smishing’ messages, Smart has also blocked Uniform Resource Locators (URL) linked to these illegal activities.
Through their Cybersecurity Operations Group, PLDT and Smart are actively fortifying and ensuring the resiliency and sustainability of their cybersecurity systems–a key part of the PLDT group’s broader program to further elevate the quality of customer experience by protecting customers from cyberthreats.