Smart accelerated the deployment of Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced and carrier aggregation technology across the Philippines to meet the growing mobile data demands of Filipinos. Both PLDT and Smart committed historic levels of resources to support network transformation, with capital expenditures reaching $1.1 billion in 2018 alone. As a result, PLDT-Smart fulfilled its commitment of making mobile data service available in 90 percent of the country’s cities and municipalities.
Mobile analytics firm OpenSignal also recognized Smart for running the country’s fastest LTE network, bestowing on the company the following citations: best in 4G LTE download speed; best in overall download speed; best 4G latency performance, and best 3G latency performance. But more than award-winning speeds, Smart’s network transformation helped transform the lives of customers who relied on it. In areas where Smart rolled out LTE, LTE-A and carrier aggregation, small business owners and Smart retailer-partners had reported an increase in earnings, boosted by improved mobile internet experience in their area.
No learner left behind
The Smart School-in-a-Bag, a portable set of digital learning tools deployed in remote and underserved areas without electricity, received two Social Contribution Awards. The trophies were given during the Asia Communication Awards in Singapore and at the World Communication Awards in London by Total Telecom, a platform that delivers information and organizes events for the global telecommunications industry.
The School-in-a-Bag is a backpack that contains a laptop, tablets preloaded with educational apps, TV, pocket Wi-Fi, solar panel with battery and activity sheets for the use of both teachers and students. With the help of donors, the School-in-a-Bag has benefited around 30,000 students in more than 30 provinces.
Disaster preparedness
With their agility and technological know-how, the youth is best suited to prepare for, respond to and mobilize their families and communities during calamities. Recognizing the role the youth can play in these times, Smart developed a disaster preparedness program for college-level students.
This program, called Tropang Ready, won in the Community Engagement category at the prestigious Golden World Awards. Presented by the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the GWA recognizes public relations practices that meet international standards of excellence.
Outstanding public relations
On the local front, Smart continued its winning streak at the Anvil Awards, receiving top honors for the third straight year at the Oscars of public relations in the Philippines.
Smart won the Grand Prix Award for having the highest number of Gold Anvils this year. The company bagged 6 Gold and 12 Silver Anvils. It also got the Grand Anvil recognition for SHINE OS+ (Secured Health Information Network and Exchange), an electronic medical record system that enables health facilities to provide faster and better service to their patients. The telecommunications company also emerged anew as one of the top winners of the Philippine Quill Awards, receiving a total of 15 trophies. Smart’s winning programs sought to make the mobile internet experience more accessible, affordable and meaningful to Filipinos; use technology to enhance education, disaster preparedness, health services, and customer experience, and transform the workplace to support the company’s digital pivot.
Capable leadership
Smart maintained its award-winning streak under capable leadership. For leading PLDT and Smart’s network transformation, chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan was named Telecom CEO of the Year at the Telecom Asia Awards in Singapore.
The Telecom Asia Awards is the region’s longest-running industry awards program, which recognizes the continent’s premier service providers and telco executives. Smart chief financial officer and PLDT Group controller June Cheryl “Chaye” Cabal-Revilla, meanwhile, led the automation and alignment of the companies’ internal systems and processes. Her efforts got the nod of CFO Innovation Awards, which conferred on her the CFO of the Year Award for Excellence in Financial Planning and Analysis in Singapore.