Smart opening more stores as subscribers reach 51M

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications Inc., a unit of dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), is opening more stores all over the country to further increase its subscriber base that reached almost 51 million as of end-June this year.

Perry Bayani, head of sales and customer service of Smart, said the company is stepping up its efforts to bring services closer to its growing subscriber base.

 “We are strengthening our presence in key areas nationwide to make it easier for our over 50 million subscribers to reach us,” Bayani stressed.

He pointed out that there are now about 100 Smart stores nationwide where subscribers try out the latest mobile devices, inquire about the products and promos, as well as learn what’s new with the company.

New stores were opened recently in Binondo, Manila; Sucat, Parañaque; Tagbilaran, Bohol; Tacloban, Leyte; and Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental.

Likewise, he added that Smart also launched accredited sales centers (ASCs) operated by its distributor partners in Tondo, Manila; Rosario, Batangas; Tanauan, Batangas; Pinamalayan, Mindoro; Odiongan, Romblon; Masbate City; Cotabato City; Laoag, Ilocos Norte; Alaminos City, Pangasinan; Tayug, Pangasinan; Silang, Cavite; Tagaytay, Cavite; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Kabankalan, Negros Occidental; and Boracay, Malay, Aklan.

 “In addition to Smart stores and ASCs, we also have various self-service channels accessible via mobile and the Internet,” Bayani added.

For his part, Smart sales and distribution head Florante Jimenez said the company would open more ASCs all over the country this year.

 “In cooperation with Smart’s distributor partners, we will open more ASCs this year to expand our service reach and allow subscribers to make Smart transactions more convenient. In doing so, we hope to give them more time to attend to the things that matter most to them,” Jimenez added.

Smart is the Philippines’ leading wireless services provider with 50.9 million subscribers on its GSM network as of end-June 2012.

PLDT and Smart are embarking on a massive P67.1 billion network upgrade that includes the installation of new network elements as well as the improvement of existing infrastructure such as fiber- optic cables, cell sites, and international gateways.