The country’s fifth generation (5G) download speed continued to improve driven by the aggressive network expansion of local telecom players.
According to Opensignal’s benchmarking the 5G global experience report for November, the Philippines has the greatest uplift globally in download speeds, with average 5G download speeds 10 times faster than 4G.
Average 5G download speed in the country was recorded at 140.6 megabits per second.
Opensignal also said the country topped the uplift chart for mobile video streaming, with a 5G video experience score that is 34 percent higher than using 4G.
The development comes as both Globe Telecom Inc. and PLDT Inc. have continued to ramp up their 5G rollout.
Globe now has over 1,800 5G locations in major and highly populated areas throughout the country. Globe 5G is present in the National Capital Region, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Boracay, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos.
PLDT, meanwhile, is hiking investments in 5G in its thrust to improve customer experience and deliver cutting-edge services this year.
PLDT said it hopes to expand its fiber network, now at 395,000 kilometers nationwide, to support the full suite of services from the company and its wireless arm Smart Communications Inc., such as fiber-to-the-home, Long Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G.
“As we complete the build-out of our 4G network so that our coverage will be as close as possible to 100 percent, we are building out our 5G network as well. 5G will bring speed and capacity, not only to the individual users on the wireless platform, but also to the home,” said Manuel Pangilinan, PLDT chairman and chief executive officer.
Smart LTE currently covers 95 percent of the population.
Opensignal sees the use of 5G technology accelerating improvements in the experience of mobile users worldwide in 2022. It said 5G will be the foundation of everyone’s mobile experience in the future.
