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Globe vs. Smart: LTE and 3G Speed Test Results

by Abe Olandres · March 13, 2017

5664 113 Share3OpenSignal just released a report comparing the performance of the 3G and 4G networks of both Smart and Globe and the results are very interesting.
In terms of 4G (LTE) availability, Globe was ahead of Smart at 55.25% vs. 39.36%. LTE availability is the proportion of time that a user has a 4G signal over the total time it is connected to the carrier’s network.
When measuring 4G/LTE speeds, Globe came in with an average of 7.42Mbps while Smart went ahead at 9.87Mbps. This is slightly better compared to the over-all average of 7.27Mbps the Philippines got back in Q3 2016.
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Measuring 3G speeds only, Globe and Smart almost tied at 2.24Mbps and 2.12Mbps, respectively. The discrepancy between the 4G and 3G speeds of the two networks is very significant, highlighting the importance of LTE frequencies to bring fast connectivity to users.
When over-all speeds are averaged between 3G and 4G, Globe and Smart are also tied – 3.33Mbps and 3.41Mbps. This measurement not only takes into consideration the 3G and 4G speeds on the network but also the time spent in those networks. This is the reason why Smart’s average dropped to 3.41Mbps despite getting a good 9.87Mbps speed on their 4G network – users spend more time on Smart’s 3G network than on their 4G network, skewing the over-all average towards the 3G speeds.
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Lastly, OpenSignal also measure the latency of each network to see how responsive each carrier in both their 3G and 4G networks.
Latency, measured in milliseconds (ms), is the delay data experiences as it travels between points in the network. A lower score in this metric is a sign of a more responsive network.
For the 4G (LTE) network, Globe and Smart are statistically tied at 55.64ms and 53.32ms, respectively. These are pretty good numbers for a mobile network.
However, for their 3G network, Smart got a better latency performance of 157.2ms compared to the 190.4ms of Globe.
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These results are definitely interesting and should give subscribers a better idea on the expected performance of their own respective carriers.
The average speeds, especially on 3G, are still very disappointing. There is good promise in the 4G networks, if you’re area has good coverage but based on the results of the survey there’s still a lot to cover.
Both Globe and Smart (PLDT) have announced aggressive expansion plans for LTE coverage in the Philippines, building more cell sites across the country and tapping into more frequency bands like the 700MHz they recently acquired from SMC.
* OpenSignal drew on 512 million measurements taken by 28,972 smartphone users between Nov. 1, 2016, and Jan. 31, 2017, to compare the 3G and 4G experience of our users on the Globe and Smart networks.

44 Responses

Comments16

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Haruki

March 14, 2017 at 5:30 pm
3G lang yung na try ko sa Smart at Globe. Same2 lang yung speeds ng dalawa. Pero mas preferred ko ang 3G ng smart kasi consistent yung speeds. Nasa Iligan City ako nag aaral, ang hina ng 3G ng Globe dito, nasa 30-40kbps lang yung speeds, yung Smart ko nasa 200+kbps. Pag uuwi ako sa probinsya namin, same lang yung dalawa. Pero mas preferred ko 3G sa Smart kasi nasa city ako palagi, kahit Facebook ang hina i-open sa Globe.
Yung LTE naman, di ko pa na try sa Smart pero sa Globe sabi ng mga kaibigan ko okay naman daw, mabilis.
Depende lang talaga sa area.

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Litolindo Labalan

March 14, 2017 at 8:22 pm
This comparison isn’t fair! Comparing 3G vs 4G is definitely not the best comparison. May I suggest to present the number of users of 3G and 4G at the moment the survey is taken. My point is that, the numbers of devices connected to 3G has a big impact on its speed vs the number of devices connected to 4G network. That could be a hasty conclusion. Example, we can say an average speed of 3G is 9.8mbps with 100 number of devices connected to it while an average speed of 4G is 7.4mbps with 1,000 number of devices connected to it. Now, this is what we call network efficiency…

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  John Jones
  
  June 7, 2017 at 6:50 am
  Bulok ka man nga pota ka. Pagbasa nim iroy
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  Nicole Evangelista
  
  June 22, 2017 at 11:06 am
  Where is the 3G vs. 4G that you’re talking about, it’s network vs. network. Get your facts straight.
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Will Gab

March 15, 2017 at 11:49 am
I have an LTE capable fone and two sim card globe and smart. In all places na pinupuntahan ko tinatry ko kung sino mas mabilis sa kanila.. laging kulilat ang smart.. lalo pag nasa loob na ng bahay.. hindi masyado nakakatagos ang signal ng smart.. in my experience i recommend globe..

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  John
  
  April 9, 2017 at 7:48 pm
  Tama ka globe talaga ANG malakas base on my experience visayas NCR up to pangasinan Hindi fair si yuga
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Lanzlot

March 23, 2017 at 12:04 pm
I both have the Globe and Smart Cellphone with unli internet. Before I connect my laptop to access the internet, I speedtest the two. A year ago, smart usually wins. But lately, the signal of Globe is more consistent. I also noticed that Smart is strictly implementing its cap while Globe is not.

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Smart

April 26, 2017 at 11:12 pm
Amierc

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Joe

April 30, 2017 at 10:28 pm
On my experience dito sa cebu, lalo na sa amin, mas malakas si smart na try ko na both 3g and 4g on both network,, mas marami lang siguro gumagamit kay globe kaya bumabagal, lumalakas lang si globe sa amin tuwing madaling araw hanggamg umaga. Pero si smart kaya umabot hanggang 6mbps using 3g kahit gabi, pag 4g aabot hanggang 23mbps, si globe I only got 7mbps using 4g, kung 3g ayaw talaga gumalaw,, depende lang talaga sa lugar.

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  Mirana
  
  June 9, 2017 at 3:39 pm
  may i know saan ka normally gumamit ng smart lte? I’m currently using Globe Lte, mapa city proper, mabolo or IT park ang speed ko nasa 1 point something mbps mapa araw o gabi. Laging 3G ang na cacapture nga signal. Worth it ba ang Smart lte kahit saan sa cebu?
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Giovanni

May 4, 2017 at 11:24 pm
In our area at province only 3g available signal on both globe and smart everytime i seach for the signal availability manually, but they have a very big difference in download speed, globe reaches more than 800kbps while smart reaches only at 100plus kbps early morning. Aloguinsan, Cebu, sana lagyan na ng 4g/LTE dito. At sana mag offer sila ng Promo na no data Cap, kasi yang 800mb per day, hindi manlang nakakadownload ng Movie. UNFAIR!!!

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Bennysbarn

May 26, 2017 at 3:45 pm
which is faster and better here in Mandaue City? Smart Router or Globe router? I plan to buy a network provider but I don’t know which is better Smart router or Globe router?

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  Dana
  
  June 20, 2017 at 3:51 am
  medyo nagulat ako sa “I plan to buy a network provider”. sorry, di ko lang mapigilan.
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  JULES
  
  June 22, 2017 at 11:11 am
  lol ‘network provider’. It depends, check the cell sites for each network on the internet, because sometimes 4G/LTE isn’t available. Therefore buying LTE broadband/Router wouldn’t be compatible
  & could be useless.
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Pasitimus

May 31, 2017 at 1:15 am
Any other sim besides SMART or GLOBE that has no DATA CAPPING? Heavy youtube user here T_T

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Stephen Roth

June 20, 2017 at 1:31 am
I am VERY familiar with both Globe and Smart. I live in Bacoor Cavite. I have an Android and am only interested in personal service. I think Globe and Smart are in a fight to the death to see who can provide the WORST service. Right now they are gridlocked…. I have NEVER seen a worst ISP in my entire life !!!!! Thank you for your time !!!!!

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