PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is maximizing its LTE network to deliver a variety of online events to its subscribers across the country during GigaFest, which showcases world-class entertainment, e-sports tournaments, digital innovations, promos and freebies.
This month-long activity, intended as a way of ‘giving back’ to subscribers, comes at the heels of two successful ad campaigns featuring Korean stars Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin in June and August.
In addition to the GigaFest, Smart has also launched a new app called the GigaLife App, which offers subscribers a simple, easy, and smart way to manage their digital activities, including balance and account details inquiry, promo and add-on registration, account reloading, viewing of billing statement, bills payment, and reward points redemption.
“In June, we launched our new Brand Promise: Simple, Smart Ako. This allowed us to further leverage on our award-winning Smart LTE network, the fastest mobile data network in the Philippines, and to deliver amazing experiences through cutting edge technology, made simple by Smart,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, Smart President and CEO and PLDT Chief Revenue Officer.
“Our campaigns did not only help the business, but also lifted our subscribers’ spirits–and that to me is priceless. As we continue to reignite the passion points of our subscribers, we fuel the growth of our business,” Panlilio said.
Panlilio added that in the past 12 months, the company has added more subscribers and reiterated the company’s commitment to continue innovating to improve customer experience.
“As our current speed scores show, we are already better than the country average and the competition. That said, we will continue investing in our network and benchmark ourselves with countries like Thailand and Vietnam to be even better. I think every Filipino deserves that level of service,” he said.
GigaLife app
At the center of the GigaFest is the launch of Smart’s latest innovation, the GigaLife App, which allows customers to better manage their Smart subscription service.
Now downloadable for free on Google Play and the App Store, the GigaLife App is available to Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers, and will soon be available to Smart Postpaid users.
GigaFest: Music, movies, sports
GigaFest activities include the 2020 iHeartRadio Music Festival, the GigaFest Virtual Concert, the first-ever online run of the Korean Film Festival in partnership with the Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League – Philippines Season 6, and the all-female esports league Liga Adarna: Laban Para Sa Korona.
Smart subscribers can also watch the NBA Playoffs live on NBA.Smart, a portal that is available exclusively to Smart Signature subscribers, and Smart Prepaid subscribers registered to Giga Video.
Fastest mobile network
Powering these activities is Smart LTE, the country’s fastest mobile data network, as certified by third-party mobile internet analytics firms such as Ookla and Opensignal. Smart has also fired up its superfast Smart 5G network in key areas nationwide to pave the way for the next generation of wireless technology in the Philippines.
Supporting Smart’s mobile network is PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, which provides high-capacity links to LTE base stations. The country’s most extensive, it now spans 382,500 kilometers nationwide.
These initiatives are made possible by PLDT and Smart’s sustained capital expenditures on their networks, with PLDT and Smart having already invested some Php260 billion from 2015 to 2019. For 2020, amid the regained momentum of the company’s network rollout efforts following the easing of lockdown restrictions, PLDT has leveled up its target capital expenditures back up to about Php70 billion or more.
