Smart Wins Ookla Best Mobile Video Experience in the Philippines Award for The Second Consecutive Year

Smart earns Ookla’s Best Mobile Video Experience recognition in the Philippines for the second consecutive year as its expanding 5G network supports smoother, faster, and clearer mobile video streaming.

• Video Leadership: Smart posted a Video Score of 72.82 based on Ookla’s analysis of Speedtest Intelligence data for the first half of 2026, giving it the highest score among mobile operators in the Philippines and its second consecutive Best Mobile Video Experience recognition.
• Streaming Quality: Ookla’s Video Experience assessment looks at real-world factors that directly affect viewers, including video start times of less than two seconds, uninterrupted playback without rebuffering, and 1080p or higher resolution for the majority of video sessions.
• 5G Expansion: Smart continues investing in network optimization and targeted 5G rollouts, with the number of 5G-capable individual devices on its network growing by 30% to 12.5 million as of end-June 2026, equivalent to 21% of individual devices on the network.

Watching videos on the go has become part of everyday life for millions of Filipinos, making the quality of the mobile network behind every stream increasingly important. Smart Communications, Inc. has once again been recognized for its performance in this area, earning Ookla’s Best Mobile Video Experience in the Philippines for the second consecutive year.

The recognition comes as Smart continues investing in the expansion and enhancement of its nationwide 5G network. For subscribers who regularly watch livestreams, series, short-form clips, and sporting events on their phones, the award highlights the kind of real-world improvements that can directly affect their everyday viewing experience.

Smart Posts 72.82 Video Score

Based on Ookla’s analysis of Speedtest Intelligence data covering the first half of 2026, Smart achieved a Video Score of 72.82, the highest among mobile operators in the Philippines.

Rather than focusing purely on theoretical network speeds, the Best Mobile Video Experience recognition measures customers' real-world Quality of Experience or QoE while streaming video over mobile networks.

Ookla evaluates three equally weighted components for its Video Experience award: acceptable video start time, uninterrupted playback, and full HD resolution.

Under its methodology, the Video Score reflects the percentage of users who experience video starting in less than two seconds, playback without rebuffering events, and 1080p or higher resolution during the majority of their video sessions.

These are practical factors that viewers can immediately notice. Faster-loading videos mean less waiting before content begins, while uninterrupted playback helps prevent frustrating pauses in the middle of a show or livestream. Higher-resolution streaming, meanwhile, can provide clearer visuals when network conditions and devices allow it.

For Smart and TNT subscribers, these capabilities are particularly relevant across popular streaming use cases, whether catching up on a series during a commute, scrolling through short-form videos, following a livestream, or watching a live sporting event.

Sustaining Network Excellence

Smart attributes the back-to-back recognition to its continuing work to strengthen its network, from improving infrastructure in areas with high demand to extending coverage to more communities.

Debbie M. Hu, First Vice President and Head of Wireless Networks at Smart, said, "This back-to-back recognition reflects the work of our network teams to continuously strengthen and improve our infrastructure. From expanding coverage in underserved communities to increasing capacity in high-demand areas, every enhancement is driven by our commitment to delivering the best possible mobile experience for our customers."

Video has become central to how Filipinos use their smartphones, extending well beyond entertainment. Mobile video is now used for communication, education, work, livestreaming, and accessing information, making consistent network performance an increasingly important part of the overall digital experience.

Lloyd R. Manaloto, First Vice President and Officer-in-Charge for Smart, said, "Video has become an essential part of everyday digital life for Filipinos, and our customers expect their mobile network to perform consistently wherever they go. This latest recognition from Ookla affirms that our network investments are translating into meaningful improvements in customer experience, and I encourage everyone to see the difference by streaming with Smart."

Smart 5G Growth Continues

Behind Smart's push for stronger mobile video performance is its continued investment in its nationwide network. The company is carrying out network optimization, targeted rollouts, and initiatives encouraging wider adoption of 5G-enabled devices as demand grows for video streaming and other data-intensive digital experiences.

As of the end of June 2026, the number of 5G-capable individual devices connected to the Smart network increased by 30% to 12.5 million. These devices now account for 21% of individual devices on its network, reflecting the continued migration of users toward 5G connectivity and higher mobile data usage.

This growth is particularly significant for mobile video because streaming increasingly demands consistent network capacity, especially as viewers consume higher-resolution content and use their smartphones for longer and more varied viewing sessions.

Investing in Better Digital Experiences

Smart’s latest Ookla recognition provides another indicator of how network investments can translate into improvements that customers can actually experience rather than simply see on a specifications sheet.

Its continuing network investments also reinforce the broader PLDT Group commitment to providing reliable and high-quality digital services to Filipinos. According to Smart, these efforts support the country's digitalization agenda while contributing to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 9, which focuses on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

As 5G adoption continues to grow and mobile video becomes even more embedded in everyday digital life, network quality will remain a major differentiator among mobile service providers. For Smart, securing the Philippines' Best Mobile Video Experience recognition for a second consecutive year gives the company another milestone as it continues expanding and optimizing its 5G network.

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