Philippines
Opensignal is the independent global standard for analyzing consumers' connectivity experiences. Our industry reports are the definitive guide to understanding what happens when people use their mobile and broadband connections in their daily life.
Philippines
Opensignal is the independent global standard for analyzing consumers' connectivity experiences. Our industry reports are the definitive guide to understanding what happens when people use their mobile and broadband connections in their daily life.
Key Findings
Globe users have the best experience when streaming video, playing multiplayer mobile games, and using voice apps — both overall and on 5G
Globe has managed a remarkable feat — replacing Smart as the outright winner for all three overall experiential awards (Video Experience, Games Experience, Voice App Experience. In addition, it is also the sole winner of the corresponding 5G experience awards, as it retains 5G Video Experience from the last report, and now wins 5G Games Experience and 5G Voice App Experience outright — after statistically tying with Smart for first place for both awards.
The fastest download experience is with Smart
As was the case last time around, Smart is the outright winner of both the overall Download Speed Experience and 5G Download Speed awards. It wins Download Speed Experience with a score of 25.3Mbps — 2.6Mbps (11.2%) faster than DITO’s 22.8Mbps and 9.1Mbps (56%) ahead of Globe’s score of 16.2 Mbps. Smart users saw the fastest average 5G download speeds — 133.2Mbps, 22.5Mbps faster than Globe users’ 110.8Mbps.
DITO users have the most consistent experience in the Philippines
The Philippines’ newest mobile operator has knocked Smart off the top spot for Excellent Consistent Quality and replaced Globe as the outright winner of the Core Consistent Quality award. DITO wins Excellent Consistent Quality with a score of 58.8% and a lead of 2.1 percentage points over Smart. On Core Consistent Quality, DITO leads by a similar margin (2.2 percentage points), with a score of 79.9% compared to Globe’s 77.7%.
Smart wins three out of four coverage awards outright
Smart has retained the 5G Availability, 5G Reach and 4G Coverage Experience awards from the last report. This means that our Smart 5G users spend the greatest proportion of their time connected to 5G (15.9% versus Globe’s 9.2%), Smart users also find 5G in the most locations of all they visit, with Smart scoring 4.7 points on a 10-point scale for 5G Reach — ahead of Globe’s 4 points. In addition, Smart users find it easiest to find 4G signals, connecting to 4G in the most locations out of all those visited by our Filipino users. Smart wins 4G Coverage Experience with a score of 8.2 points on a 10-point scale, narrowly ahead of Globe’s 8.1 points, while DITO is some way behind its more established rivals, with 5 points.
DITO users’ speeds have risen markedly
DITO’s Download Speed Experience score has risen by an impressive 5.6Mbps (32.3%) since the last report, while our Smart and Globe users’ average download speeds have risen by 2.9Mbps (12.7%) and 2.1Mbps (14.8%), respectively. On Upload Speed Experience, while DITO’s score rose by 0.7Mbps (16.2%), the largest increase belongs to Globe — 0.9Mbps (26.1%). As a result, Globe has replaced Smart in second place and DITO’s lead has risen from 0.5Mbps to 0.8Mbps.
Mobile Experience Awards
Market Overview
The balance of the Philippines’ mobile experience landscape has significantly shifted. Of the 14 awards that were won outright in the last report, five have changed hands, while the 5G Games Experience and 5G Voice App Experience awards are now held solely by Globe, after it shared them with Smart last time around. Much of these changes have been at Smart’s expense, with Globe taking the Video Experience, Games Experience and Voice App Experience awards from it, while DITO has replaced Smart as the winner of the Excellent Consistent Quality award. However, Globe hasn’t had everything its way, as it has lost the Core Consistent Quality award to DITO.
These changes mean that Globe is the most awarded operator in this report, winning seven awards outright to Smart’s five and DITO’s four — another change from the previous report, when Smart won 11 awards either solely or jointly to Globe’s five.
In this report, we've analyzed the mobile network experience of the Philippines' three national operators (DITO, Globe and Smart) in the 90 days starting on January 1, 2023 and ending on March 31, 2023 both nationally and regionally. We have also analyzed the experience of our Filipino users when they were connected to 5G technology (5G experience) and the overall experience of our 5G users (the – 5G Users categories). DITO has yet to officially launch 5G nationally, but it has gone live with a 5G service in Metropolitan Manila and so we have reported on the 5G experience of our DITO users in this region as part of our regional analysis.
Overall Experience
National Analysis
Globe is the new outright winner of the Video Experience award — replacing the previous winner, Smart. This means that our Globe users have the best experience on average in the Philippines when streaming mobile video over cellular connections (measured across all generations of mobile technology). Globe wins with a score of 58.2 points on a 100-point scale, ahead of second-placed DITO’s 56.2 points, while former winner Smart is in third place with 52.9 points.
Globe is the only Filipino operator to place in the Good (58-68) category, while Smart and DITO place one category lower — Fair (48-58). This means that our Globe users are, on average, able to stream video at 720p or better with satisfactory loading times and little stalling.
Turning to the overall video experience of our 5G users (Video Experience – 5G Users), Globe 5G users had the best experience given their score of 63.9 points, giving Globe a lead of 4.4 points over Smart.
Video Experience scores account for adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR), a technology that allows Opensignal to accurately represent users’ real video experience including video streams up to 4K quality.
Definitions
Opensignal’s Video Experience quantifies the quality of video streamed to mobile devices by measuring real-world video streams over an operator's networks. The metric is based on an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach, built upon detailed studies which have derived a relationship between technical parameters, including picture quality, video loading time and stall rate, with the perceived video experience as reported by real people. To calculate video experience, we are directly measuring video streams from end-user devices and using this ITU approach to quantify the overall video experience for each operator on a scale from 0 to 100. The videos tested include a mixture of resolutions — including Full HD (FHD) and 4K / Ultra HD (UHD) — and are streamed directly from the world’s largest video content providers.
In addition to Video Experience, we report on the following metrics related to video experience:
- 5G Video Experience: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users when they were connected to an operator’s 5G network.
- Video Experience – 5G Users: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator's networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G video experience along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Video Experience: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 4G network.
- 3G Video Experience: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users on an operator’s 3G network.
National Analysis
Our Globe users have the best overall experience in the Philippines when playing multiplayer mobile games over cellular connections. This is a change from the last report, when Smart won the Games Experience award outright. Globe’s victory was driven by a remarkable rise of 12.1 points (26%), while DITO and Smart’s scores rose by five points (10.8%) and 3.2 points (5.9%), respectively. Globe wins with a score of 58.8 points on a 100-point scale and a lead of 1.2 points over Smart’s 57.6 points.
Looking at the overall games experience of our 5G users (Games Experience – 5G Users), Globe 5G users had the best experience given their score of 60.3 points, giving Globe a lead of 2.6 points over Smart.
Definitions
Opensignal’s Games Experience measures how mobile users experience real-time multiplayer mobile gaming on an operator’s network. Measured on a scale of 0-100, it analyzes how our users’ multiplayer mobile gaming experience is affected by mobile network conditions including latency, packet loss and jitter.
Games Experience quantifies the experience when playing real-time multiplayer mobile games on mobile devices connected to servers located around the world. The approach is built on several years of research quantifying the relationship between technical network parameters and the gaming experience as reported by real mobile users. These parameters include latency (round trip time), jitter (variability of latency) and packet loss (the proportion of data packets that never reach their destination). Additionally, it considers multiple genres of multiplayer mobile games to measure the average sensitivity to network conditions. The games tested include some of the most popular real-time multiplayer mobile games (such as Fortnite, Pro Evolution Soccer and Arena of Valor) played around the world.
Calculating Games Experience starts with measuring the end-to-end experience from users’ devices to internet end-points that host real games. The score is then measured on a scale from 0 to 100.
In addition to Games Experience, we report on the following metrics related to games experience:
- 5G Games Experience: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users when they were connected to an operator’s 5G network.
- Games Experience – 5G Users: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator's networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G games experience along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Games Experience: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 4G network.
- 3G Games Experience: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO) network.
National Analysis
Globe completes its hat-trick of overall experiential awards, by replacing Smart as the outright winner of the Voice App Experience award. Globe wins with a score of 75.5 points on a 100-point scale, giving it a lead of less than a point over Smart’s score of 74.7 points. DITO is in last place with 74.3 points.
All three of the Philippines’ national operators place in the Acceptable (74-80) category. This indicates that some of our users are satisfied and listeners are generally able to comprehend without repetition. However, perceptible call quality impairments are experienced by some users. Clicking sounds of short duration or distortion are heard, and/or the volume may not be sufficiently loud.
In terms of the overall voice app experience of our 5G users (Voice App Experience – 5G Users), Globe 5G users had the best experience with their score of 76.2 points, giving Globe a lead of 1.2 points over Smart.
Definitions
Opensignal's Voice App Experience measures the quality of experience for over-the-top (OTT) voice services — mobile voice apps such as WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook Messenger — using a model derived from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach for quantifying overall voice call quality and a series of calibrated technical parameters. This model characterizes the exact relationship between the technical measurements and perceived call quality. Voice App Experience for each operator is calculated on a scale from 0 to 100.
In addition to Voice App Experience, we report on the following metrics related to voice app experience:
- 5G Voice App Experience: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users when they were connected to an operator’s 5G network.
- Voice App Experience – 5G Users: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator's networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G voice app experience along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Voice App Experience: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 4G network.
- 3G Voice App Experience: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO) network.
National Analysis
Smart continues to win the overall Download Speed Experience award outright, doing so this time with a score of 25.3Mbps — 2.6Mbps (11.2%) faster than DITO’s 22.8Mbps and 9.1Mbps (56%) ahead of Globe’s score of 16.2 Mbps. However, Smart’s lead has more than halved from the 5.3Mbps it enjoyed in the last report. This is because second-placed DITO’s score has risen by an impressive 5.6Mbps (32.3%), while our Smart and Globe users’ average download speeds have risen by 2.9Mbps (12.7%) and 2.1Mbps (14.8%), respectively.
In addition to winning Download Speed Experience outright, Smart also has the highest score for Download Speed Experience – 5G Users, 51.3Mbps versus Globe’s 32.9Mbps. This measures the average download speeds of our 5G users across all generations of mobile technology.
Definitions
Measured in Mbps, Download Speed Experience represents the typical everyday speeds a user experiences across an operator’s mobile data networks.
In addition to Download Speed Experience, we report on the following metrics related to download speeds:
- 5G Download Speed: The average download speed observed by Opensignal users with active 5G connections.
- Download Speed Experience – 5G Users: The average download speeds experienced by Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator’s networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G download speeds along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Download Speed: The average downlink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 4G.
- 3G Download Speed: The average downlink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO).
National Analysis
DITO wins the Upload Speed Experience award outright for the third report in a row, winning this time with a score of 5.2Mbps. DITO’s lead has risen from 0.5Mbps to 0.8Mbps, as Globe users saw a 0.9Mbps (26.1%) increase in their average overall upload speeds, which pushed Globe into second place — replacing Smart — while DITO’s score rose by a smaller (but still impressive) 0.7Mbps (16.2%). Smart users saw the smallest improvement — a rise of 0.3Mbps (8.2%).
Definitions
Upload Speed Experience measures the average upload speeds for each operator observed by our users across their mobile data networks. Typically upload speeds are slower than download speeds, as current mobile broadband technologies focus resources on providing the best possible download speed for users consuming content on their devices. As mobile internet trends move away from downloading content to creating content and supporting real-time communications services, upload speeds are becoming more vital and new technologies are emerging that boost upstream capacity.
In addition to Upload Speed Experience, we report on five supporting metrics related to upload speeds:
- 5G Upload Speed: The average upload speed observed by Opensignal users with active 5G connections.
- Upload Speed Experience – 5G Users: The average upload speeds experienced by Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator’s networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G upload speeds along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Upload Speed: The average uplink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 4G.
- 3G Upload Speed: The average uplink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO).
Regional Analysis
Globe, the new winner of the national Video Experience award sees that success reflected regionally. It wins outright in seven out of 17 regions, including Metropolitan Manila. Globe also shares first place in a further eight regions — six with DITO and two alongside Smart (Bangsamoro and Cordillera). DITO is the only other operator to win outright, doing so in Eastern Visayas and Mimaropa. Globe and DITO have the highest and second highest regional score — both in Metropolitan Manila — of 63 points and 61.7 points, respectively.
Turning to Games Experience, Globe (also the national winner) wins outright in five regions. It statistically ties for first place in 11 regions, mainly alongside Smart. However, there are three regions where our users do not observe a statistically significant difference in their overall experience when playing multiplayer mobile games — Caraga, Soccsksargen and the Zamboanga Peninsula. Our Globe users in Metropolitan Manila have the best regional Games Experience, given their score of 67.2 points, followed by those on Smart in the same region (64.8 points).
Globe also performs the most strongly on Voice App Experience, winning outright in eight regions and tying for first place in a further seven (including three-way statistical ties in Soccsksargen and Western Visayas). DITO is the only other operator to win outright, doing so in the Zamboanga Peninsula and DITO also ties with Smart in Eastern Visayas.
Switching to Download Speed Experience, Smart has had the most success regionally, winning outright across 11 regions and tying alongside DITO in a further three (Bicol, Cagayan Valley and Western Visayas). DITO is the only other operator to win outright, doing so in Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Mimaropa. Our Smart users in Metropolitan Manila see the fastest average download speeds — 31.7Mbps, followed by our DITO users in the same region’s 30.4Mbps.
On Upload Speed Experience, DITO, the national winner, performs the most strongly regionally, picking up 13 outright wins along with three joint wins. It statistically ties for first place with Globe in Davao and Northern Mindanao, and shares first place with Smart in Metropolitan Manila.
Regional Analysis Summary: Philippines, Mobile Network Experience Report, April 2023
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A-I
- Bangsamoro
- Bicol
- Cagayan Valley
- Calabarzon
- Caraga
- Central Luzon
- Central Visayas
- Cordillera
- Davao
- Eastern Visayas
- Ilocos
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J-R
- Metropolitan Manila
- Mimaropa
- Northern Mindanao
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S-Z
- Soccsksargen
- Western Visayas
- Zamboanga Peninsula
in Bangsamoro
in Bangsamoro
in Bangsamoro
in Bangsamoro
in Bangsamoro
in Bicol
in Bicol
in Bicol
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in Bicol
in Cagayan Valley
in Cagayan Valley
in Cagayan Valley
in Cagayan Valley
in Cagayan Valley
in Calabarzon
in Calabarzon
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in Calabarzon
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in Caraga
in Caraga
in Caraga
in Caraga
in Caraga
in Central Luzon
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in Central Luzon
in Central Visayas
in Central Visayas
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in Cordillera
in Cordillera
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in Cordillera
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in Davao
in Davao
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in Davao
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in Eastern Visayas
in Eastern Visayas
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in Eastern Visayas
in Eastern Visayas
in Ilocos
in Ilocos
in Ilocos
in Ilocos
in Ilocos
in Metropolitan Manila
in Metropolitan Manila
in Metropolitan Manila
in Metropolitan Manila
in Metropolitan Manila
in Mimaropa
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in Northern Mindanao
in Northern Mindanao
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in Northern Mindanao
in Northern Mindanao
in Soccsksargen
in Soccsksargen
in Soccsksargen
in Soccsksargen
in Soccsksargen
in Western Visayas
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in Western Visayas
in Western Visayas
in Western Visayas
in Zamboanga Peninsula
in Zamboanga Peninsula
in Zamboanga Peninsula
in Zamboanga Peninsula
in Zamboanga Peninsula
5G Experience
National Analysis
Globe is the sole winner of the 5G Video Experience award for the third time in a row. This time around, it wins with a score of 74.2 points on a 100-point scale, giving it a lead of 4.5 points over Smart’s 69.7 points.
Both operators place in the Very Good (68-78) category for 5G Video Experience. This means that our Globe and Smart users are, on average, able to stream video at 1080p or better with satisfactory loading times and little stalling when connected to 5G.
5G Video Experience scores account for adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR), a technology that allows Opensignal to accurately represent users’ real video experience including video streams up to 4K quality.
Definitions
5G Video Experience quantifies the quality of mobile video experienced by Opensignal users on real-world video streams when they were connected to 5G. The metric is based on an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach, built upon detailed studies which have derived a relationship between technical parameters, including picture quality, video loading time and stall rate, with the perceived video experience as reported by real people. To calculate 5G Video Experience, we are directly measuring video streams from end-user devices and using this ITU approach to quantify the video experience observed by our users on each operator’s 5G network on a scale from 0 to 100. The videos tested include a mixture of resolutions — including Full HD (FHD) and 4K / Ultra HD (UHD) — and are streamed directly from the world’s largest video content providers.
National Analysis
Globe has gone from sharing the 5G Games Experience award with Smart in the previous report to winning it outright. Globe comes top with a score of 73.5 points on a 100-point scale, while Smart is 8.8 points behind the winner. This change has occurred due to an impressive 10.5-point improvement in Globe’s score, while Smart’s increased by only 1.5 points.
Definitions
5G Games Experience measures how mobile users experience real-time multiplayer mobile gaming on an operator's 5G network. It analyzes how our users’ multiplayer mobile gaming experience was affected by mobile network conditions including latency, packet loss and jitter. 5G Games Experience for each operator is calculated on a scale from 0 to 100.
5G Games Experience quantifies the experience when playing real-time multiplayer mobile games on mobile devices connected to servers located around the world. The approach is built on several years of research quantifying the relationship between technical network parameters and the gaming experience as reported by real mobile users. These parameters include latency (round trip time), jitter (variability of latency) and packet loss (the proportion of data packets that never reach their destination). Additionally, it considers multiple genres of multiplayer mobile games to measure the average sensitivity to network conditions. The games tested include some of the most popular real-time multiplayer mobile games (such as Fortnite, Pro Evolution Soccer and Arena of Valor) played around the world. Calculating 5G Games Experience starts with measuring the end-to-end experience from users’ devices to internet end-points that host real games.
National Analysis
As is the case with 5G Games Experience, Globe is now the outright winner of the 5G Voice App Experience award, having statistically tied for first place with Smart in the last report. Globe wins with a score of 80.4 points on a 100-point scale, 2.8 points ahead of Smart’s 77.6 points.
Definitions
5G Voice App Experience quantifies the experience of Opensignal users when using over-the-top voice apps — such as WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook Messenger — on an operator’s 5G network. It uses a model derived from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach for quantifying overall voice call quality and a series of calibrated technical parameters. This model characterizes the exact relationship between the technical measurements and perceived call quality. 5G Voice App Experience for each operator is calculated on a scale from 0 to 100.
National Analysis
Smart remains unbeaten on 5G Download Speed, having won the award outright ever since it was first awarded to a Filipino operator back in the October 2021 5G experience report. Our Smart users continue to see the fastest average 5G download speeds — 133.2Mbps, 22.5Mbps faster than Globe users’ 110.8Mbps. Smart’s lead has increased since the last report (when it led Globe by 17.3Mbps), due to a 6.7Mbps decline in Globe’s score.
Definitions
5G Download Speed shows the average download speed experienced by Opensignal users across an operator’s 5G network. 5G Download Speed for each operator is calculated in Mbps (Megabits per second).
National Analysis
Globe continues to be the outright winner of the 5G Upload Speed award, having stripped it from Smart in the last report. This time around, Globe wins with a score of 11.6Mbps, while Smart places second with 11Mbps. Globe’s margin of victory of 0.7Mbps has fallen from last time around, when it won by 1.4Mbps. This is due to a 1.2Mbps drop in the average 5G upload speeds seen by our Globe users, while our Smart users saw a smaller decline of 0.4Mbps.
Definitions
5G Upload Speed measures the average upload speeds experienced by Opensignal users across an operator’s 5G network. 5G Upload Speed for each operator is calculated in Mbps (Megabits per second).
Regional Analysis
As might be expected given that Globe is the national winner of the 5G Video Experience, 5G Games Experience and 5G Voice App Experience awards, it dominates these categories regionally. It wins outright for all three across five regions (Bicol, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Central Visayas and Mimaropa) and is only prevented from adding Northern Mindanao to this list due to a statistical tie with Smart on 5G Video Experience. No other operators win outright in any of these categories, but Smart statistically ties with Globe in four regions for each measure and DITO does the same in Metropolitan Manila.
Smart comes top — either outright or jointly — for 5G Download Speed in all but two of the regions where we have analyzed the 5G experience. The exceptions are Davao where Globe is the sole winner and Metropolitan Manila where DITO comes top with a blisteringly fast score of 378.2Mbps, the fastest 5G download speeds observed by our Filipino users regionally.
Turning to 5G Upload Speed, Globe wins outright in Central Visayas, Davao and Northern Mindanao and statistically ties with Smart for first place in six regions. DITO comes top in Metropolitan Manila, as our users on its network observe average 5G upload speeds of 18.1Mbps — which statistically ties for the highest regional score with the 18.2Mbps enjoyed by our Globe users in Davao.
Regional Analysis Summary: Philippines, Mobile Network Experience Report, April 2023
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A-I
- Bicol
- Calabarzon
- Central Luzon
- Central Visayas
- Cordillera
- Davao
- Eastern Visayas
- Ilocos
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J-R
- Metropolitan Manila
- Mimaropa
- Northern Mindanao
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S-Z
- Western Visayas
in Bicol
in Bicol
in Bicol
in Bicol
in Bicol
in Calabarzon
in Calabarzon
in Calabarzon
in Calabarzon
in Calabarzon
in Central Luzon
in Central Luzon
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in Central Luzon
in Central Luzon
in Central Visayas
in Central Visayas
in Central Visayas
in Central Visayas
in Central Visayas
in Cordillera
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in Cordillera
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in Davao
in Davao
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in Davao
in Davao
in Eastern Visayas
in Eastern Visayas
in Eastern Visayas
in Eastern Visayas
in Eastern Visayas
in Ilocos
in Ilocos
in Ilocos
in Ilocos
in Ilocos
in Metropolitan Manila
in Metropolitan Manila
in Metropolitan Manila
in Metropolitan Manila
in Metropolitan Manila
in Mimaropa
in Mimaropa
in Mimaropa
in Mimaropa
in Mimaropa
in Northern Mindanao
in Northern Mindanao
in Northern Mindanao
in Northern Mindanao
in Northern Mindanao
in Western Visayas
in Western Visayas
in Western Visayas
in Western Visayas
in Western Visayas
Coverage
DITO
Globe
Smart
National Analysis
DITO wins the Availability award for the third time in a row and continues to be the only Filipino operator to earn this recognition. DITO comes top on this occasion with a score of 98.7%, giving a lead of 2.1 percentage points over second-placed Smart’s score of 96.7%. Globe is in last place with 93.5%. However, Globe’s score is up by 1.6 percentage points from the last report, while Smart’s increased by 0.4 percentage points and DITO’s has remained statistically unchanged.
Definitions
Our availability metrics are not a measure of a network’s geographical extent. They won’t tell you whether you are likely to get a signal if you plan to visit a remote rural or nearly uninhabited region. Instead, they measure what proportion of time people have a network connection, in the places they most commonly frequent — something often missed by traditional coverage metrics. Looking at when users have a connection rather than where, provides us with a more precise reflection of the true user experience.
We also keep track of the instances that leave mobile users most frustrated: when there is no signal to connect to at all. The most common dead zones users struggle with occur indoors. As most of our availability data is collected indoors (as that’s where users spend most of their time), we’re particularly astute at detecting areas of zero signal.
Our availability metrics take a user-centric, time-based approach that complements the user-centric and geographical-based methodology used by our reach metrics.
Availability shows the proportion of time all Opensignal users on an operator’s network had either a 3G, 4G or 5G connection.
Map Definition
The coverage maps show the locations where we received measurements from users connecting with 3G or better mobile service. Each map provides an indication of the areas in which it is possible to obtain mobile service from that mobile operator.
National Analysis
Smart is still the only Filipino operator to hold the 5G Availability award — which recognizes operators for the proportion of time that our 5G users spend with an active 5G connection. Smart beats Globe this time around with a score of 15.9% — 6.7 percentage points ahead of Globe’s 9.2%.
Definitions
Our availability metrics are not a measure of a network’s geographical extent. They won’t tell you whether you are likely to get a signal if you plan to visit a remote rural or nearly uninhabited region. Instead, they measure what proportion of time people have a network connection, in the places they most commonly frequent — something often missed by traditional coverage metrics. Looking at when users have a connection rather than where, provides us with a more precise reflection of the true user experience.
We also keep track of the instances that leave mobile users most frustrated: when there is no signal to connect to at all. The most common dead zones users struggle with occur indoors. As most of our availability data is collected indoors (as that’s where users spend most of their time), we’re particularly astute at detecting areas of zero signal.
Our availability metrics take a user-centric, time-based approach that complements the user-centric and geographical-based methodology used by our reach metrics.
5G Availability shows the proportion of time Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription had an active 5G connection.
Map Definition
The coverage maps show the locations where we received measurements from users connecting with 3G or better mobile service. Each map provides an indication of the areas in which it is possible to obtain mobile service from that mobile operator.
National Analysis
Smart again comes top for 5G Reach. It wins this time around with a score of 4.7 points on a 10-point scale, while Globe is in last place with four points.
Definitions
5G Reach measures how users experience the geographical extent of an operator’s 5G network. It analyzes the average proportion of locations where users were connected to a 5G network out of all the locations those users have visited. In simple terms, 5G Reach measures the 5G mobile experience in all the locations that matter most to everyday users – i.e. all the places where they live, work and travel. 5G Reach for each operator is measured on a scale from 0 to 10.
Map Definition
The coverage maps show the locations where we received measurements from users connecting with 3G or better mobile service. Each map provides an indication of the areas in which it is possible to obtain mobile service from that mobile operator.
National Analysis
Smart remains undefeated on 4G Coverage Experience, winning outright again with a score of 8.2 points on a 10-point scale. However, Globe is close behind with a score of 8.1 points. DITO, the Philippines’ newest operator has a long way to go before it can contest the award, given its score of five points. It is making progress, as its score has increased the most since the last report, rising by 0.5 points, compared to Globe’s and Smart’s increases of 0.3 points and 0.2 points, respectively.
Definitions
4G Coverage Experience measures how mobile subscribers experience 4G coverage on an operator’s network. Measured on a scale of 0-10, it analyzes the locations where customers of a network operator received a 4G signal relative to the locations visited by users of all network operators.
In simple terms, 4G Coverage Experience measures the mobile coverage experience in all the locations that matter most to everyday users — i.e. all the places where they live, work and travel. It considers all the areas that Opensignal users visit, the portion of locations that 4G is available to them, and locations that more users visit have higher importance to them.
Map Definition
The coverage maps show the locations where we received measurements from users connecting with 3G or better mobile service. Each map provides an indication of the areas in which it is possible to obtain mobile service from that mobile operator.
Regional Analysis
DITO dominates on regional availability, winning outright in 14 regions — including Metropolitan Manila — and statistically tying with Smart in Central Luzon, along with being in a three-way statistical tie for first place in Cordillera.
Smart shines on 5G Availability, being the sole victor in nine regions and sharing first place with Globe in Cordillera and Northern Mindanao. DITO comes top in Metropolitan Manila with a score of 36.1% — well ahead of Smart’s 22.5% and Globe’s 14%.
For 5G Reach, Smart either wins outright or jointly wins across all the regions where we have analyzed the 5G experience. It wins outright in Metropolitan Manila with a score of 6.3 points on a 10-point scale (the highest seen across the regions). Globe shares first place with Smart in five regions.
Regional Analysis Summary: Philippines, Mobile Network Experience Report, April 2023
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A-I
- Bangsamoro
- Bicol
- Cagayan Valley
- Calabarzon
- Caraga
- Central Luzon
- Central Visayas
- Cordillera
- Davao
- Eastern Visayas
- Ilocos
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J-R
- Metropolitan Manila
- Mimaropa
- Northern Mindanao
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S-Z
- Soccsksargen
- Western Visayas
- Zamboanga Peninsula
in Bangsamoro
in Bicol
in Bicol
in Bicol
in Cagayan Valley
in Calabarzon
in Calabarzon
in Calabarzon
in Caraga
in Central Luzon
in Central Luzon
in Central Luzon
in Central Visayas
in Central Visayas
in Central Visayas
in Cordillera
in Cordillera
in Cordillera
in Davao
in Davao
in Davao
in Eastern Visayas
in Eastern Visayas
in Eastern Visayas
in Ilocos
in Ilocos
in Ilocos
in Metropolitan Manila
in Metropolitan Manila
in Metropolitan Manila
in Mimaropa
in Mimaropa
in Mimaropa
in Northern Mindanao
in Northern Mindanao
in Northern Mindanao
in Soccsksargen
in Western Visayas
in Western Visayas
in Western Visayas
in Zamboanga Peninsula
Consistency
National Analysis
DITO is the new outright winner of the Excellent Consistent Quality award, having dethroned Smart, the previous winner. DITO comes top with a score of 58.8%, giving a lead of 2.1 percentage points over Smart’s score of 56.7%. Globe brings up the rear with 56.1%.
Definitions
Consistent Quality measures how often users’ experience on a network was sufficient to support common applications’ requirements. It measures download speed, upload speed, latency, jitter, packet loss, time to first byte and the percentage of tests attempted which did not succeed due to a connectivity issue on either the download or server response component.
Full details on how the Consistent Quality metrics — Excellent Consistent Quality and Core Consistent Quality — are calculated can be found here.
Excellent Consistent Quality is the percentage of users’ tests that met the minimum recommended performance thresholds to watch HD video, complete group video conference calls and play games.
National Analysis
DITO completes the set of consistency awards, replacing Globe as the sole winner of the Core Consistent Quality award. DITO wins outright with a score of 79.9% and a lead of 2.2 percentage points over the former winner. Smart is in last place with 75.3%.
Definitions
Consistent Quality measures how often users’ experience on a network was sufficient to support common applications’ requirements. It measures download speed, upload speed, latency, jitter, packet loss, time to first byte and the percentage of tests attempted which did not succeed due to a connectivity issue on either the download or server response component.
Full details on how the Consistent Quality metrics — Excellent Consistent Quality and Core Consistent Quality — are calculated can be found here.
Core Consistent Quality is the percentage of users’ tests that met the minimum recommended performance thresholds for lower performance applications including SD video, voice calls and web browsing.
Related Analysis
Our Methodology
Collecting billions of individual measurements daily from over 100 million devices globally, Opensignal independently analyzes mobile and broadband user experience on every major network operator around the globe.
About Opensignal
Opensignal is the leading global provider of independent insights into consumers' connectivity experiences and choice of carrier. Our proprietary insights into mobile and broadband networks give operators the solutions they need to profitably compete and win, from executive level scorecards and public validation to pin-point level engineering analytics and consumer decision dynamics.
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Confidence Intervals
For every metric we calculate statistical confidence intervals indicated on our graphs. When confidence intervals overlap, our measured results are too close to declare a winner. In those cases, we show a statistical draw. For this reason, some metrics have multiple operator winners.
In our bar graphs we represent confidence intervals as boundaries on either sides of graph bars.
In our supporting-metric charts we show confidence intervals as +/- numerical values.
Why confidence intervals are vital in analyzing mobile network experience