Smart recognized anew as top Asian operator

THE Philippines’ leading wireless service provider bagged three major international awards, including top honors as Operator of the Year at the recently concluded 2012 Asia Communication Awards — winning over Singapore’s Singtel and StarHub, Australia’s Telstra Global, and Unitel of Laos.

The only Philippine telephone company recognized at the prestigious awards program, Smart reaped the most number of operator accolades during the Annual Awards Dinner held in Singapore.

Smart’s winning entries include the Netphone -- the world’s first Smartphone backed by an operator-managed system, under the Innovation Award category, and Secured Health Information Network and Exchange (Shine) -- Smart’s flagship mHealth program, under the Best Emerging Market Initiative category.

CAGAYAN DE ORO. Shown in the photo taken during the awarding ceremony are Perry Bayani, Smart Sales and Customer Service Group head, and Gio Bacareza, Smart Telco Plus Product Management Department head, receiving the awards of Smart from Paul Michael Scanlan, Huawei vice president for Solution, Sales and Marketing. (Contributed photo)

No stranger to the Asia Communication Awards, Smart has been recognized by the prestigious telecommunication tilt in 2011 as Operator of the Year, and as Best Green Technology.

Aside from Smart’s three awards, Smart’s key programs were also recognized by the ACA.

Making it to the list of this year’s Asia Communication Awards finalists were the following Smart initiatives: Green Merchandising Program, under the Green Technology Award; Jump Experience Center -- the Philippines’ first multi-dimensional experience center of Smart and mother firm, PLDT, under Customer Service Initiative category; and SmartCares, the country’s first customer care channel on social media for a telecommunication company, under the Social Media Initiative category.

Smart’s President and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno was also nominated for CEO of the Year.

The Asia Communication Awards recognize the achievements of Asian telecom companies and the individuals responsible for the innovations, achievements and great new services that are helping shape the future of the industry.

Organized by Total Telecom, the ceremony is one of the highlights of CommunicAsia, the annual information and communications technology (ICT) exhibition and conference held in Singapore that showcase key and emerging technologies. (PR)