The fifth generation (5G) speed of Globe Telecom Inc. is now three times faster than mobile WiFi, according to Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence data for the first quarter of the year.
Meanwhile, PLDT Inc. has phased out its mobile brand, Sun Cellular in the market and folded it into the Smart brand.
Ookla said Globe logged a 5G median download speed of 121.29 megabits per second (Mbps) versus the 42.95 Mbps booked by all fixed providers in the Philippines from January to March.
Ookla used the statistical validation approach called Hsu’s Multiple Comparisons with the Best procedure to identify how fast Globe’s 5G median download speeds are in comparison with mobile WiFi speeds.
Globe attributed the continued improvement in its mobile network speeds to steady investments in its network upgrades and infrastructure development.
“We realize that our customers’ needs have changed and we are there to meet these changes in a big way. For us to do this, we continue to invest in the latest mobile technologies like 5G,” said Ernest Cu, Globe president and chief executive officer.
This year, Globe has earmarked P89 billion for capital expenditure to build new cell sites, upgrade existing sites to 4G/Long Term Evolution, accelerate the rollout of 5G connectivity and ramp up the fiberization of Filipino homes nationwide.
In 2021, Globe spent an all-time high P92.8 billion to fire up over 2,000 5G outdoor sites and in-building solutions, build 1,407 new cell towers, upgrade 22,300 mobile sites and install 1.4 million fiber-to-the-home lines.
In a statement, PLDT mobile unit Smart Communications Inc. said Sun postpaid was officially rebranded to Smart postpaid starting April 25.
Under this rebranding, all Sun postpaid subscribers will still be able to use their existing mobile number, subscriber identity module (SIM) and plan inclusions, but will now enjoy all the benefits and perks that come with being a Smart postpaid customer.
Sun Cellular, which had 6.5 million prepaid subscribers as of end-2019, was first rebranded to Smart prepaid in October 2020, after Smart and Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. (DMPI), entered into a rebranding agreement, according to PLDT’s filing at the stock exchange.
The brand consolidation under Smart aims to capitalize on Smart’s robust mobile data network to provide superior mobile data experience to all Sun subscribers and achieve cost efficiency in brand management. Post-rebranding, the ownership of Sun prepaid subscribers remains under DMPI. Under the terms of the agreement, Smart will settle a fixed fee representing DMPI’s proportionate share on the distributed subscriber revenues.
As a result of the rebranding, PLDT reassessed the useful life of the Sun trademark arising from the acquisition of Digitel in 2011 amounting to P4.5 billion.
As Sun postpaid rebrands to Smart postpaid, subscribers now enjoy Smart 5G, the country’s fastest 5G network according to mobile network and intelligence firm Ookla.
With Smart 5G, subscribers with 5G-enabled smartphones and SIM can experience fast upload and download speeds for greater productivity and more immersive digital experiences on Smart 5G-covered areas nationwide.
Aside from this, subscribers will be able to enjoy a simpler way to manage their digital lifestyle through the GigaLife App, Smart’s one-stop super app that lets customers conveniently check their data, call and text usage; view and pay their postpaid bill; and avail of the latest postpaid offers and add-ons, anytime and anywhere.
Sun Business subscribers, on the other hand, will also soon be rebranded to Smart Enterprise Postpaid, with better and more exciting experiences for subscribers to be announced soon.
As of end-December 2021, PLDT had a total of 71.2 million mobile subscribers, down 2 percent from 72.9 million subscribers in 2020. Of that total, Smart has 28 million, TNT has 42.5 million and Sun postpaid, 529,148 users.