Smart bags third ‘Best in Test’ award from
global benchmark firm umlaut
PLDT’s wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart)’s best rated mobile network has been recognized by a global benchmarking company.
For the third time in the last 3 years that the award has been given, Smart has clinched the top award from the infrastructure and benchmarking specialist umlaut, part of Accenture.
In awarding the ‘Best in Test’ accolade, umlaut also cited Smart for having the best rated upload speeds, download speeds, and latency experience–a testament to Smart’s long-standing initiatives to continuously strengthen their network and provide enhanced mobile services.
Germany-based umlaut said Smart posted an overall score of 801 out of a maximum of 1,000 points. The report, which included 985 million samples collected from May to October 2022, also showed Smart ahead in terms of mobile wireless voice, internet browsing, mobile video and gaming and OTT messaging performances.
Smart’s score achievements includes voice metrics, which include call set-up times and voice call quality; data, which cover uploads and download speeds, web browsing and consistently good and reliable throughput across the country; and crowdsourced elements to check for quality of coverage and reliability of sessions.
Hakan Ekmen, CEO Telecommunication of umlaut, part of Accenture, and umlaut representatives recently met with PLDT and Smart network executives led by PLDT Network Head Eric Santiago to hand over the award. Also in attendance were Head of Network Quality Radames Zalameda, Head of Network Strategy and Planning John Emill Buencamino, Network Build and Implementation Head Debbie M. Hu and Head of Network Design Arvin L. Siena.
“This is a great recognition by umlaut. We at PLDT like to say that our customers are our North Star. The mobile benchmarking by umlaut demonstrates that we have delivered on that promise and underscores our efforts to sustain our leadership in the marketplace,” said PLDT Network Head Eric Santiago, who added that moving forward, PLDT will also include artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to ensure continuous improvements.
“The true barometer of our network’s performance is the experience of our customers. These tests by umlaut are based on real-world experience, and we are heartened by these results that show that our investments are paying off. However, our work does not end here as we intend to continue improving our network in order to elevate the experience of our customers. Whatever their use case may be — may it be for video, gaming or work — our aim is to deliver the best possible experience,” he added.
As of end-September, Smart had deployed 77,200 base stations, including 7,300 5G base stations and close to 40,000 4G/LTE base stations. Smart’s network covers 97% of the population with 3G, LTE, and 5G.
Smart’s mobile network is supported by PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, the most extensive in the country. As of end-September, PLDT has expanded its total fiber footprint to about 1,091,000 kilometers, consisting of over 231,000 kilometers of international fiber and almost 860,000 kilometers of domestic fiber.
“We are here to ultimately enable hybrid workplaces and businesses in the New Normal, as well as boost Government’s digitalization initiatives,” he added.
Since 2019, Smart has been given the “Best in Test award”. That year, PLDT’s wireless arm was cited for having the best and widest 4G/LTE coverage, and fastest upload and download speeds.
In 2021, in conferring the “Best in Test” award alongside other citations, umlaut noted Smart’s superior and progressively improving network even with the impact of COVID-19, unlike its competitor. umlaut also cited Smart for consistently showing higher throughput rates than its competitor, and for providing the best network performance during the 30th Southeast Asian Games in December 2019. umlaut covers more than 200 mobile networks in more than 120 countries worldwide.
ManageEngine study reveals that it is more responsible for driving corporate innovation than ever before
ManageEngine, the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corporation, today announced the results of its comprehensive study focused at Philippines market, IT at work: 2022 and beyond. The research unveiled that 84% of respondents believe that the IT department is more responsible for business innovation than ever before. Additionally, 77% of decision-makers felt that IT could drive greater innovation if it had a stronger leadership position.
Accelerated digital transformation and strategic responsibility coupled with increased emphasis on business resilience, innovation and agility has reinvented the role of IT teams. IT teams are implementing advanced tech while facilitating business growth. 65% of IT decision-makers (ITDMs) said that their organisation uses AI and ML to defend systems from cyberattacks. At the same time, 78% said that their organisation uses advanced data analytics to detect anomalous behaviour, and 67% said that it is deployed to gain correlation and contextualization.
While IT teams are responsible for facilitating digital innovation and ensuring networks are cyber secure, the survey indicated IT departments felt they lacked the required support from their organizations to effectively take on this responsibility. The research revealed that 59% of ITDMs in the Philippines felt that their organization should have supported them more in the last two years. In addition, 47% of ITDMs felt that their opinion was not taken into regard while organizations were embracing hybrid work models.
As the tech landscape is witnessing tremendous transformation, 60% of business decision-makers (BDMs) in the Philippines indicated that a lack of training is a barrier employees face in trying to take full advantage of technology. This is the highest when compared to both the global average of 47% and the data from ASEAN peers like Singapore (48%), Malaysia (45%) and Indonesia (47%). However, 78% of BDMs in the Philippines said that their department receives training in technology processes and tools from an internal training team.
“IT departments play a crucial role in developing value-added strategies and providing deep insights into organizations’ digitization potential,” said Arun Kumar, regional director for APAC at ManageEngine. “IT teams need to work together with non-IT departments by equipping non-IT staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to embark on a digital innovation journey. With this collaboration and shared knowledge, IT and non-IT employees can form a strong and resilient barrier that will keep critical resources secure from cyberattacks while leading tech advancement.”
The study was conducted by Vanson Bourne and involved 150 ITDMs in various organizations across the Philippines. Respondents were surveyed on topics like the role of IT, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and cybersecurity. The report’s findings identified key challenges in the IT infrastructure that require the attention of ITDMs along with developments that will define the future of IT. The report aims to reimagine a future-proof workforce that will position organizations as a competitive force in the age of digital transformation.
Other Key Findings
- Ninety-three percent of ITDMs said that there was increased collaboration between their organizations’ IT teams and other departments in the past two years.
- Furthermore, 97% of ITDMs said that their IT department works well together with C-suite professionals.
- Fifty-eight percent of ITDMs said that their organization has already completed decentralization of IT functions, while 42% said that decentralization is still ongoing.
- The survey also reported that 72% of respondents believed decentralization of IT would lead to professional growth through upskilling. At the same time, decentralization also brings new challenges, as 45% of respondents said that they need to maintain IT security levels and prioritize user experiences.
To view the full survey, visit https://mnge.it/ph-itsurvey
Sprout Solutions recognized at
Alibaba Cloud’s AsiaStar 10X10 Awards
Sprout Solutions, The Philippines’ most trusted HR tech company and largest homegrown B2B SaaS vendor, received the Enabler award from tech giant Alibaba Cloud during its first-ever AsiaStar 10×10 campaign and awards.
The recognition was given to Sprout at the Apsara Startup Conference also organized by Alibaba Cloud on November 4, 2022, at the Singapore Management University (SMU), and was based on the number and quality of clients serviced by Sprout over the past year, as well as the company’s financial performance and growth trajectory in the region’s SaaS segment.
From over a hundred nominees, a total of 10 awards were given out to 10 high-performing organizations in the South East Asia technology sector. The final selection of awardees was determined using a scoring system based on meaningful impact within Southeast Asia’s tech scene between July 2021 and June 2022, with Alibaba Cloud executives, SaaS investors, and prominent business and tech journalists comprising the panel of judges. A few of the other award categories included:
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Gamechangers: Companies that broke records or set precedents in the SEA tech scene.
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Growth: The most promising early stage to Series B startups
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Explorers: Chinese startups that have successfully entered the SEA market
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Investors: The backbone of startups, given to the most successful VC or PE organizations.
The full awards panel and category list can be found here: asiastar10x10.kr-asia.com.
At the actual Aspara Startup Conference attended by SEA tech industry leaders and innovators, luminaries such as Minette Navarrete, President of Kickstart Ventures, Zee Zheng, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of SpaceChain, and Alan Lai, Founder & CEO of ProfilePrint presented and discussed wide-ranging trends dominating the SEA tech scene. Innovation, Web 3, Blockchain, and AI were among these topics.
In a recorded video message Atty. Arlene De Castro, Sprout Solutions Chief People & Customer Officer humbly accepted the award. In her remarks, she shared “Since its inception, Sprout has always been committed to making an impact in Filipino lives by improving business in the Philippines, and this is made possible by our innovative solutions.” She further added, “We’d like to thank Alibaba for this award and recognition. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to our partners and stakeholders. Most of all, we’d like to thank our clients who continue to put their trust in our solutions throughout the years.”
For more information on how Sprout Solutions continues to help businesses of all sizes transform the way they recruit, onboard, manage, engage and retain their workforce, visit www.sprout.ph
MSI expands its presence in the Philippines
by opening a new store in Davao City
MSI has increased its presence in the Philippines by building its sixth concept shop. The new concept shop, located on Level 2, Cyberzone, Annex, SM Davao, assists the brand in reaching out to its followers and consumers in Mindanao.
“MSI is excited to deliver fresh and engaging experiences to Davao’s gamers and professionals. This is a huge step for us since we noticed a need in the area and decided it was the right moment to extend our local presence. We aim to bring innovation closer to people because we acknowledge the value of accessibility in creating a more inclusive society,” says Rhyan Sy, Product Manager at MSI Philippines.
The opening of shops coincides with the launch of the brand’s new makeover, which provides a more modern appearance and feels in keeping with MSI’s “Tech Meets Aesthetic” credo. The new design has a brighter and more engaging, yet simple ambiance, putting the brand’s view for the remainder of the year into focus. The store is separated into two sections: Tech Meets Aesthetic, which sells business and productivity items, and True Gaming, which sells gaming equipment.
Things to look forward to at MSI Davao Launch:
- Exclusive Promotion MSI also has a Holiday promotion running until December 31, 2022. This promo highlights MSI’s Vector GP Series, GF Thin Series, Katana GF Series, Modern Series, and Stealth 15M, all of which are ideal for the rigors of work and play. Purchase any of these laptops during the promotional time to receive savings of up to PHP 22,000 and freebies of up to PHP 6,500. MSI gaming headphones, gaming mice, thermos bottles, and much more are among the gifts! In addition, the first “10” customers who purchase any MSI laptop in the concept shop will receive a free 1TB Seagate External HDD valued at PHP 3,690 and a FREE 8GB RAM upgrade applicable for all gaming and modern laptop series for the first “30” buyers, while supplies last.
- Additional Campaign. If you want even more freebies, post your MSI laptop story on social media for a chance to win a PHP 1,000 Steam Wallet Code or Food Vouchers as part of our Your Opinion Matters campaign.
- In-store Activities. Nevertheless, the MSI Davao Grand Launch wouldn’t be complete without any in-store activities and freebies giveaways. So make sure to visit us on November 26, Saturday at 2L Cyberzone, Annex, SM Davao Ecoland.
So, what are you holding out for? Grab these incredible computers with numerous goodies while you can! For full details, visit: 2022 Christmas Promotion (msi.com)
Shout out for MSI! Your Opinion Matters! MSI Philippines | Linky.ph
narzo opens 50th store in PH
narzo Philippines continues rapid business expansion
amid tight competition in smartphone market
narzo recently inaugurated its 50th store last November 19 in Las Piñas. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the 3rd Level of SM Southmall, the four-month old brand welcomed new customers from the South with games, prizes, and freebies to celebrate its offline landmark achievement.
The 50th store opening coincides with the start of the “Quality Sulit Holidays”, narzo’s first ever Christmas campaign as an independent brand. In attendance were Mr. Alex Fong, CEO of Aerophone Enterprises & Co., alongside Mr. Johnson Cheng and Ms. Joanne Idorot from the narzo Sales & Retail team.
“We are very happy to have Aerophone as a part of our growing dealer network in the Philippines. narzo’s rapid business expansion as a young brand in the face of tight competition in the local smartphone market is made possible by the strong support we are receiving from both our partners and fans,” says Ms. Joanne Idorot, narzo Retail Head.
“As part of our retail strategy, we’re aiming to establish more narzo stores in all 17 regions of the country, with a strong emphasis on provinces especially in Visayas and Mindanao. We want to be one of the first newcomer brands to touch base with rural areas and give them narzo’s quality sulit advantage,” she added.
The first successful leg of narzo’s ChristMASAYA Caravan was also held on the same day at SM Mall of Asia, wherein walk-in customers enjoyed an interactive program with Minute-to-Win-It challenges. Participants won limited edition narzo shirts, finger sleeves for mobile gaming, and PHP 1,000 rebate for the top record-holder. Succeeding legs of the ChristMASAYA Caravan will be held across 25 participating narzo stores every Saturday, until December 17.
For more information and latest updates on narzo Philippines, follow the brand’s official Facebook page. Subscribe to its new YouTube channel for more content, and join the thirteen-thousand strong narzo Philippines online community to be a part of the real game changer!
