PLDT’s Smart Communications, Inc. provides faster long-term evolution (LTE) speeds than Globe Telecom Inc, a UK-based company said.

In its report titled “State of Mobile Networks: Philippines (March 2018)” covering November to January, OpenSignal showed that PLDT led in LTE speeds, clocking in at 12.48 megabits per second (Mbps) versus Globe’s 7.69 Mbps. It also led in overall download speed (5.78 versus 4.41 Mbps).

“LTE speeds on Smart have continued to ratchet up over the last year while those on Globe have been relatively stagnant, according to our test results. Our 4G download tests on Smart jumped from 9.8 Mbps in March 2017, to 10.6 Mbps just six months ago, to 12.5 Mbps in the most recent test period. Contrast that performance to Globe’s results over the same time period to see a marked difference: 7.4 Mbps a year ago, 7.2 Mbps six months ago and 7.7 Mbps in the current reporting period,” OpenSignal said.

Globe, on the other hand, outpaced its rival in LTE availability, according to the report.

“It was much easier to find a 4G signal on Globe’s network, according to our data. OpenSignal users were able to tap into Globe’s 4G service 67.5% of the time, which is still short of the 70% availability indicative of a maturing LTE rollout, but it’s getting close,” OpenSignal said.

The test was conducted on over 51,000 devices.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

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