Smart Communications Reclaims Top Spot in Philippines Telecom Rankings

Network Performance Reshuffles Market Leaders

Smart Communications has regained its position at the top of the Philippines' telecom market, securing wins in gaming experience and voice quality while sharing video streaming leadership with Dito Telecommunity Corp. The PLDT-owned carrier matched Dito's performance across eight separate metrics in Opensignal's Mobile Experience Awards for July 2026, marking a significant comeback after previous quarters of competitive pressure.

The results highlight a market where two carriers now dominate technical performance. Smart took outright wins in 5G upload speed, 5G coverage, gaming experience, 5G gaming, voice applications, and 5G voice applications. Dito and Smart split honors in video experience and 5G video experience, according to the network analytics firm.

Dito maintained its strength in infrastructure-dependent categories, leading in reliability, download speed, 5G download speed, upload speed, time on network, and time on 5G. The all-5G architecture that Dito deployed from its market entry continues to deliver measurable speed advantages, giving subscribers the fastest data transfer rates across both directions.

Globe Telecom managed wins in only two categories: consistent quality and coverage. The result represents a notable gap between the incumbent carrier and its two rivals, particularly as Smart and Dito expand their 5G footprints.

Infrastructure Investment Drives Competitive Edge

Opensignal senior market research analyst Valentina Salome noted that Smart's recovery stems from its focus on ensuring subscribers can reliably access online services. The carrier has invested heavily in network density and 5G rollout across Metro Manila and key provincial markets, improving both coverage and service stability.

Dito's all-5G network design gives it structural advantages in speed metrics. By avoiding legacy 3G and 4G infrastructure constraints, the carrier delivers faster throughput for both downloads and uploads. Dito users also spend more time connected to 5G networks than subscribers of competing carriers, a function of both coverage and device compatibility.

The competitive landscape may shift further as Dito expands its national footprint through a network sharing agreement with PLDT. The arrangement allows both carriers to access each other's tower sites at no cost, accelerating coverage expansion without duplicate capital expenditure. For Dito, the agreement provides faster access to underserved regions where tower construction timelines would otherwise delay service launches.

Market Dynamics and Strategic Responses

Globe is pursuing alternative strategies to close the performance gap. In June, the carrier launched Starlink Mobile, a direct-to-device satellite service, in the Philippines. The offering allows subscribers to access connectivity in areas beyond terrestrial network reach, provided they have an unobstructed view of the sky.

Globe positions the Starlink partnership as a solution for the approximately four percent of the population outside its land-based network coverage. The service represents the first commercial deployment of direct-to-device satellite connectivity in the country, though its impact on Opensignal's performance metrics remains unclear given the niche use case.

All three carriers face a looming deadline to shut down 3G networks by December 31, a regulatory mandate aimed at freeing spectrum for more efficient 4G and 5G services. The transition will force carriers to migrate remaining 3G-only subscribers to newer devices and networks, a process that may temporarily disrupt service for some users.

Salome indicated that the 3G shutdown could reshape competitive dynamics again toward year-end, as carriers reallocate spectrum and optimize network configurations for 4G and 5G traffic.

Regional Context and Market Maturity

The Philippines' telecom market reflects broader Southeast Asian trends, where new entrants leveraging modern infrastructure challenge established players built on legacy networks. Dito's entry in 2021 introduced a third competitor to a market long dominated by PLDT-Smart and Globe, forcing both incumbents to accelerate 5G deployment and improve service quality.

The country's telecom regulator has pushed for greater competition and improved consumer experience through spectrum auctions, service quality mandates, and infrastructure sharing requirements. The 3G sunset represents another step in that regulatory roadmap, aligning the Philippines with markets like Singapore and South Korea that have already retired older network generations.

For Smart, the July results validate investments in network modernization and 5G coverage expansion. The carrier's ability to match Dito across multiple categories demonstrates that scale and spectrum holdings can offset the efficiency advantages of greenfield all-5G networks.

Dito's continued strength in speed and reliability metrics underscores the performance ceiling that modern architecture enables, even as the carrier works to expand coverage beyond urban centers. The network sharing deal with PLDT accelerates that expansion while preserving capital for network densification in high-traffic areas.

Globe's position highlights the challenge facing incumbents with extensive legacy infrastructure. Upgrading nationwide networks while maintaining service continuity requires balancing capital allocation between next-generation technology and existing systems that still serve millions of subscribers. The Starlink partnership offers a tactical solution for coverage gaps but does not address the core network performance issues reflected in Opensignal's measurements.

The competitive intensity in the Philippines telecom market benefits consumers through improved service quality and expanding 5G availability. As carriers jockey for position ahead of the 3G shutdown and holiday season traffic peaks, subscribers can expect further network investments and service improvements across all three providers.