PH records "biggest" improvement in 5G experience in Asia

As telcos ramp up investments in their networks, the Philippines has posted the "biggest" improvement both in 5G download speeds and video experience in Asia, the latest data from independent mobile analytics firm Opensignal showed.

PH logs biggest improvement in 5G video experience

Filipinos enjoy a better 5G experience

Based on its March 2022 Benchmarking the 5G Experience–Asia Pacific, OpenSignal said Filipinos experience a 33 percent better video experience using 5G compared to 4G.

This figure is higher than Indonesia (29%), Thailand (23%), Hong Kong (18%), Taiwan (14%), New Zealand (13%), Australia (12%), Singapore (9%), South Korea (7%), and Japan (6%).

The report also stated that the country posted an average 5G download speed of 136.6 Mbps from November 1, 2021, to January 29, 2022, pushing this segment's improvement ratio to 8.9.

This is faster than Thailand (7.5), Taiwan (7.2), South Korea (6.3), New Zealand (6), Hong Kong (5.1), Australia (4.6), Indonesia (4.5), Singapore (4), and Japan (3.4).

The Philippines also scored an average of 77.1 out of 100 for 5G Video Experience, 63.7 for 5G Games Experience, and 77.5 for 5G Voice App Experience.

While OpenSignal also noted that 5G availability in the Philippines remains limited—with 11.1 percent 5G availability and 3.7 out of 10 for 5G reach—developments remain "impressive".

For this year, major telco players Globe Telecom and PLDT are keeping their massive network investments.

Globe is allotting PHP 89 billion to further accelerate the 5G rollout, build new cell sites, upgrade existing sites to 4G/LTE, and ramp up the fiberization of Filipino homes nationwide.

We intend to meet the growing demand for faster connectivity, lower latency, and higher bandwidth that 5G technology can offer. 5G has the potential to transform lives and drive new investment opportunities. We want to be ready when that shift happens, said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO.

PLDT, meanwhile, has set its capital expenditures at PHP 76 billion to PHP 80 billion.