Top entities: Speedtest.net, PLDT — Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, DITO Telecommunity, Philippines — National Telecommunications Commission.

What category does this event fall under?

Tech — classified as industry report.

What is the sentiment of coverage?

Aggregate sentiment score: 10 on a -100 to +100 scale (negative = critical coverage, positive = favorable coverage).

What were the key actions taken?

Philippines — National Telecommunications Commission mandated 3G sunset · Speedtest.net conducted study · PLDT — Smart Communications deployed EVS codec

Is this event still developing?

This is an active story, last updated Jul 30, 2026. Coverage continues to evolve.

Tech industry report

Ookla VoLTE study Philippines operators

Q: When did this event occur?

First reported Jul 27, 2026; last updated Jul 30, 2026.

Q: What is the market impact?

General. The study reinforces the competitive positioning of Philippine mobile operators, particularly Smart and DITO, by highlighting their VoLTE quality advantages.

Analysis based on 6 articles · First reported Jul 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 30, 2026

Sentiment

Attention

Articles

Market Impact

General

Live prominence charts, article sentiment distribution, and event development timeline available on the Ergen Dashboard

Market Impact

The study reinforces the competitive positioning of Philippine mobile operators, particularly Smart and DITO, by highlighting their VoLTE quality advantages. It may influence consumer choice and regulatory focus on network infrastructure investments.

Telecommunications

Event Summary

Speedtest.net published a controlled network test in Manila comparing VoLTE voice quality of Philippines' three major mobile operators (PLDT — Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, DITO Telecommunity) against OTT apps like Meta Platforms — WhatsApp. The study found carrier VoLTE delivers superior HD audio, better weak-signal resilience, and lower call block rates. Smart and DITO achieved higher MOS scores using EVS codec. The report also notes the Philippine NTC's mandate to sunset 3G by December 2026, urging operators to prioritize VoLTE coverage as a foundation for AI-driven voice services.

Key Actions

40 Philippines — National Telecommunications Commission mandated 3G sunset

30 Speedtest.net conducted study

20 PLDT — Smart Communications deployed EVS codec

20 DITO Telecommunity deployed EVS codec

Entities Involved

priv

Speedtest.net

Speedtest.net conducted the study, reinforcing its role as a benchmark authority in network performance analysis.

Importance 80.0 Sentiment 10.0

subs

PLDT — Smart Communications

Smart's VoLTE network performed well, achieving high MOS scores with EVS codec, positively reflecting on its service quality.

Importance 70.0 Sentiment 20.0

stock

Globe Telecom

Globe's VoLTE had lower MOS scores than peers due to AMR-WB codec, but still delivered HD quality; lowest block rate recorded.

Importance 70.0 Sentiment 5.0

priv

DITO Telecommunity

DITO's VoLTE performance was strong with EVS codec, positioning it as a competitive player in voice quality.

Importance 70.0 Sentiment 20.0

govactor

Philippines — National Telecommunications Commission

NTC's 3G sunset mandate drives industry focus on VoLTE migration, shaping regulatory landscape.

Importance 50.0 Sentiment 0.0

cnt

Philippines

The study highlights the Philippine telecom market's progress in VoLTE deployment, relevant for consumers and investors.

Importance 40.0 Sentiment 5.0

subs

Meta Platforms — WhatsApp

Meta Platforms — WhatsApp's OTT voice was rated lower in quality and reliability compared to carrier VoLTE, potentially affecting user perception.

Importance 30.0 Sentiment -10.0

Relationships

Globe Telecom related ↔ Philippines

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