The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has raised serious concerns after joint quality-of-service (QoS) testing across Metro Manila revealed 29 test points with unsatisfactory mobile broadband performance, despite most evaluated areas registering satisfactory speeds.
Out of 142 test campaigns conducted across Quezon City, San Juan, Pasig, and Taguig, 113 locations logged download speeds above 50 megabits per second (Mbps).
“The NTC notes the very satisfactory speeds recorded in most areas tested. However, the NTC expresses serious concern about 29 test points that yielded unsatisfactory results. There is a need to immediately address the identified deficiencies,” NTC Deputy Commissioner Andres Castelar said.
The regulatory agency initiated the joint performance evaluation following the issuance of show-cause orders (SCOs) to allow representatives from Smart, Globe, and DITO to observe the field testing procedures firsthand.
Engineers utilized Rohde & Schwarz QualiPoc measurement tools embedded in commercial 5G-enabled Android smartphones to capture real-world network metrics.
DITO recorded the highest peak download speed during the test run at 422 Mbps along Boni Serrano Avenue in Barangay Socorro, Quezon City.
Globe and Smart posted their highest speeds at 381 Mbps and 377 Mbps, respectively, along San Francisco Street near SeaOil Plainview in Barangay Plainview, Mandaluyong City.
However, the regulatory evaluation also exposed notable dead zones and service drops across the capital region.
DITO recorded no measurable download speed, or 0 Mbps, outside Farmers Market in Cubao. Globe registered its lowest download speed at 11.10 Mbps along Mercedes Avenue in Barangay San Miguel, Pasig City, while Smart posted its lowest rate at 6.32 Mbps along Coronado Street in Mandaluyong City, heading toward J.P. Rizal in Taguig City.
In addition to data connectivity, the commission evaluated text messaging reliability and voice call drop rates.
Globe led text messaging performance with an average SMS success ratio of 99.41 percent, followed by DITO at 98.82 percent and Smart at 92.94 percent. Globe was the sole carrier to meet the NTC benchmark requiring a success rate above 99 percent.
In call drop assessments, Smart recorded a 0 percent call drop ratio, followed by Globe at 0.74 percent and DITO at 2.82 percent. Smart and Globe complied with the regulatory ceiling requiring call drop ratios below 2 percent, whereas DITO breached the maximum allowed threshold.
Castelar said the NTC will continue conducting QoS tests in other areas of the National Capital Region (NCR) to monitor network performance and identify deficiencies.
The regulator also cautioned mobile operators that it will issue additional show-cause orders if subsequent field assessments reveal further non-compliance with established service benchmarks.