PLDT-Smart boosts SM Cyber Month with new data offerings for digital-savvy Filipinos 

Leading telco and digital services provider PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc (Smart) are supporting SM Cyber Month with its new mobile data offerings for YouTube and gaming for digital-savvy Filipinos. Gaming enthusiasts, shoppers, and guests can explore gadgets on display, listen to tech brands talk about their latest products, join the NBA2K tournament, and get great deals during SM’s Cyber Month.

“Aside from free charging and free LTE SIM upgrade, gamers can also drop by the Smart booth to join mini tournaments, learn from a vlogger camp, and other special discounts during the event,” said Louie De Guzman, Assistant Vice President and Center Head of Key Accounts Management at PLDT-Smart.

“We are here to provide the fastest fixed and mobile network services to support the Filipinos’ increasing appetite for data, particularly for gaming and e-sports. With Smart’s Free YouTube for all and evolved GIGA offers, Filipinos can pursue their passions more whether through social media, videos, or online games,” said Precy Katigbak, Vice President and Head of National Key Accounts at PLDT-Smart.

New GIGA offers drive Smart’s mobile data traffic

Smart launched evolved data offers (GIGA Video, GIGA Games and GIGA IG+FB) early this year, and these have contributed to the rise in mobile data usage on the network, mostly because of the increased time spent by subscribers watching videos online.

As of the first quarter this year, monthly YouTube users further increased by 35% compared to the previous quarter, while viewership of other video apps like NBA, iWant and iflix have also more than doubled. In addition, the volume of monthly Mobile Legends data traffic also increased by 141% in the first quarter.

Philippines’ fastest network

PLDT and Smart are continuously expanding and modernizing their fixed and mobile networks, backed by a historic-high capital expenditure of P78.4 billion this year. The capex investments are to further expand coverage and to increase capacity to handle the exponential growth in data traffic. The ultimate aim is to deliver the best data customer experience.

Smart has raised the total number of LTE base stations to about 18,000 as of the first quarter. Smart is also activating carrier aggregation across its sites, enabling the network to deliver even faster mobile internet services by combining the capacity of two or more frequency bands.

Meanwhile, PLDT has further expanded its total fiber optic cable network footprint to 259,000 kilometers. This fiber network also supports Smart’s mobile network by providing high-capacity links to cellular base stations.