Smart Communications and Globe Telecom have taken contrasting positions on the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) findings on mobile broadband performance, with Smart saying it would work with the regulator to validate and address the issues while Globe questioned the findings based on separate government data.
The NTC earlier said it had prepared show cause orders against Smart, Globe, and DITO Telecommunity over service deficiencies detected during mobile internet tests in September. The regulator said it was imposing a daily penalty of P100,000 until the identified deficiencies are rectified.
Smart said it would cooperate with the NTC while independently checking the regulator’s findings against its own network data and third-party assessments.
“Smart Communications remains committed to continuously improving its network and delivering a better experience for its customers,” the telco said.
“Smart will work closely with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on the specific areas of concern identified in its show cause order. While Smart will validate the findings based on its own network data, it will continue to address areas where improvements can be made and support the NTC’s efforts to enhance the quality of telco services.”
Smart, however, pointed to other measurements that it said showed stronger network performance than suggested by the NTC findings.
The company cited the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) Oplan Bantay Signal reports, where Smart received a “Good” overall network performance rating in July and August 2026.
Smart said its overall score stood at 80.2 in August, with an average download speed of 52.13 Mbps. It also cited Ookla’s recognition of Smart for the Best Mobile Video Experience in the Philippines for the first half of 2026, with a Video Score of 72.82.
“Smart will use these independent benchmarks, together with its own network data and the NTC’s findings, to guide continuing improvements in network quality, capacity and resilience,” the company said.
Globe, meanwhile, took a more critical position on the NTC announcement, saying the regulator’s assessment appeared to conflict with the latest DICT measurements.
“We are concerned by the NTC statement, saying we have not improved services because the latest DICT report proves otherwise,” Globe chief sustainability and corporate communications officer Yoly Crisanto said.
“We make use of the latest technologies, including satellites, to serve even the GIDA [Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas],” she added.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange dated Sept. 28, Globe also said it had yet to formally receive the show cause order cited by the NTC.
“We would like to clarify that as of this filing, we have not received the aforementioned show cause order from the NTC,” Globe said.
The NTC said its September tests found no improvement in the mobile internet performance of the three operators in flagged areas in Metro Manila compared with validation tests conducted during the first and second quarters of the year.
For Globe, the areas identified for revalidation included Makati and Quezon City.
