- Nation-wide Reach and Advanced Networks: Smart Broadband, Inc. builds upon PLDT’s legacy, offering combined 4G/LTE and expanding 5G coverage to nearly the entire Philippine archipelago.
- Industry Challenges and Innovations: From spectrum allocation hurdles to the integration of AI for customer experience, Smart Broadband, Inc. navigates a dynamic telecom landscape with strategic partnerships and service diversification.
Smart Broadband’s 5G expansion
Smart Broadband, Inc. operates as the broadband division of Smart Communications, Inc., itself a wholly owned subsidiary of PLDT Inc., the Philippines’ largest integrated telecommunications provider. Through a combined 4G/LTE and rapidly expanding 5G network, the company reaches approximately 97% of the population, serving both urban centres and outlying provinces with highspeed internet access.
Under the stewardship of Smart Communications’ leadership, including Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, the firm has aggressively rolled out new base stations and smallcell deployments. In his keynote for Ericsson’s Imagine Live 2024, Pangilinan noted:
“Nowadays, if you use the word or adjective ‘digital,’ you’re probably ten years behind the times.”
This underscores the company’s commitment to staying ahead of technological trends and driving the next phase of the Philippines’ digital transformation.
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Smart Broadband, Inc. navigates industry challenges
The Philippine telecom industry faces persistent challenges: spectrum scarcity, regulatory compliance, and the capital intensity of nationwide infrastructure build-outs. Smart Broadband, Inc. has responded by forging partnerships with global technology vendors and investing in spectrum acquisition to alleviate congestion and improve service reliability. Moreover, the firm has diversified into digital platforms—such as e-wallet integrations and IoT solutions—to support an increasingly digital Filipino lifestyle.
Recent innovations include AI-driven network optimisation, which dynamically adjusts traffic loads to maintain peak performance during demand surges. The company also pilots community-mesh WiFi programmes in rural areas, addressing the digital divide by providing shared access points for underserved communities.
As competition from rival carriers intensifies, price wars and promotional offers abound. Smart Broadband, Inc. focuses on differentiated service quality, emphasising low-latency connections for gaming and remote work, coupled with robust customercare channels. This customer-centric approach aims to foster loyalty in a market where switching costs are minimal.
Looking ahead, Smart Broadband, Inc. is poised to capitalise on 5G’s full potential—offering fixed-wireless access and enterprise-grade solutions for smart cities, telemedicine, and industry 4.0 applications. By aligning its growth strategy with national digitaleconomy goals, the company endeavours to sustain its leadership and drive inclusive connectivity across the archipelago.
