History
Anticipating the liberalization of the telecommunications industry in the Philippines a group of Filipino investors led by Orlando B. Vea and David T. Fernando organized Smart (then named Smart Information Technology, Inc.) on January 24, 1991. The company obtained its congressional franchise in April 1992 and was granted a provisional authority to operate a mobile cellular service in May 1993.[9] In December 1993, Smart commenced commercial operations of its cellular service. By then, Smart had drawn in partners. These were: First Pacific, a Hong Kong–based conglomerate through its Philippine flagship Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone of Japan (NTT).
In compliance with the government's telecommunications program, Smart established a local exchange service in the cities and provinces assigned to it under the "service area scheme." The company also obtained licenses to provide international gateway, paging and inter-carrier transmission services.[10]
On March 24, 2000, PLDT completed its share-swap acquisition of Smart, making Smart a 100%-owned PLDT subsidiary. In 2003, Smart was named the best employer in the Philippines in a study conducted by the firm Hewitt Associates.[11]
In February 2011,[12] Smart unveiled the Netphone, its own line of Android-compliant smartphones designed for emerging markets at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The Netphone was introduced as the world's first smartphone backed by an operator-managed platform.
On August 25, 2012,[13] Smart launched the Philippines' first 4G mobile broadband commercial service running on LTE technology. On April 13, 2016,[14] Smart introduced the first commercial LTE-A Service in Boracay, Aklan.
On June 13, 2016, Smart and its parent company PLDT unveiled their new logos and identity as part of the company's continuing digital pivot.[15]
In February 2017,[16] Smart and parent company PLDT signed a memorandum of understanding with China-based Huawei Technologies "to shape the strategic and commercial development of the 5G ecosystem in the Philippines".
On April 21, 2017, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 10926 which renewed Smart's license for another 25 years. The law granted Smart a franchise to establish, maintain, lease and operate integrated telecommunications, computers, electronics, and stations throughout the Philippines.[17][18]
In October 2018, petitioners asked the Supreme Court to stop Globe and Smart from using the 700 MHz[19] and Smart announced that they were working to fix its slow internet service.[20] On July 30, 2020, Smart activated their 5G mobile network initially in Makati Central Business District, Bonifacio Global City, Araneta City, SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia Bay Area.[21]
In August 2025, Smart launched an app-based MVNO brand KiQ (pronounced as "kick").[22]
