Smart announces the extension of its partnership with international gaming developer and publisher MOONTON Games

Strengthening its position as a patron of Philippine esports, mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has announced the extension of its partnership with international gaming developer and publisher MOONTON Games to be the official local telco partner for the upcoming 2023 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournaments. 

 

Now on its sixth consecutive year, Smart’s partnership with MOONTON Games includes the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League – Philippines (MPL-PH) Seasons 11 and 12 set to happen this February and August, respectively; Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup (MSC) in June; and the much-awaited M5 World Championship, which will take place in the country in the last quarter of the year. 

 

Smart is also the official local telco partner for the newly added league, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Development League - Philippines (MDL-PH), the official amateur tournament league for esports players. This will serve as a breeding ground for promising amateur players to further bolster the dominance of the region in the esports scene.

 

“Smart has always believed in the talent and skill of Filipino esport athletes. Through our partnership with MOONTON Games, we aim to continue empowering them and further inspire others to level up their gameplay and make the most of every gaming moment, powered by the Philippines’ fastest and best mobile network," said Francis E. Flores, SVP and Head of Consumer Business Group – Individual at Smart.

 

We thank Smart for our meaningful partnership for six years. They have been supporting the growth and sustainability of esports and we are happy to be partnering once again to elevate the gaming and streaming experience of Filipinos," said Tonyo Silva, MOONTON Games Senior Marketing Manager.

 

 

MPL Season 11 & MDL Season 1 

 

Smart’s partnership kicked off this February with the start of the regular season MPL-PH Season 11 last Feb. 17 and the debut of the new tournament, MDL-PH Season 1 last Feb. 15. 

 

The MPL-PH Season 11 featured 8 franchise teams - Blacklist International, Bren Esports, ECHO, Nexplay EVOS, ONIC Philippines, RSG Philippines, Smart Omega, and TNC Pro Team.

 

On the other hand, MDL Season 1 featured 10 rookie teams including Gamelab, the grand champion of the recently concluded Smart League Tournament. They will be joined by Blacklist Academy, ZOL Esports, ECHO Proud, ONIC Arsenals, RSG Ignite, Smart Omega Neos, BREN x Euphoria Esports, Nexplay EVOS Tiger Cub and TNC Neo.

 

The whole MPL-PH Season 11 and MDL-PH Season 1 - from regular season matchups all the way to the playoffs and finals - will be available to stream on Smart’s official Facebook page, enabling mobile gaming fans and enthusiasts to catch the matches on the go and root for their favorite MLBB teams. As a treat, Smart is also giving away special prizes to those watching the games.

 

Advocate for safer online spaces

 

As the longtime official telco partner of MLBB esports in the Philippines, Smart has cemented its position as a staunch supporter of esports - including esports athletes, fans, game publishers, and tournament organizers - in the country. 

 

Filipino gamers can enjoy leveled-up gaming experiences powered by Smart, the Philippines' Fastest and Best mobile network in 2022, according to Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband intelligence.

 

Alongside its support for esports, Smart is an advocate for safer online spaces especially within the Philippine gaming community.

As part of this advocacy, Smart and its parent company PLDT has launched a program consisting of a series of conversations on internet safety among gaming industry experts and advocates through Better Today PH.

 

Register your SIM for leveled-up gaming experiences

 

In compliance with the SIM Registration Law, Smart encourages all its subscribers to have their SIM registered. Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers can visit the https://simreg.smart.com.ph/ portal. 

 

Smart Postpaid users, on the other hand, simply need to confirm the personal information and IDs they submitted for their postpaid plan application by texting YES to 5858 and wait for the confirmation message from Smart.

 

Learn more about how Smart enables subscribers to level up their gameplay by visiting https://gigaarena.smart/. 

 

Smart teams up with Moonton for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Pro League Season 7

Leading mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has teamed up once again with Shanghai-based developer Moonton as its official telco partner of the upcoming season of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL), the Philippines’ largest mobile esports league.

 

The MPL Season 7 pits 10 of the country’s top Mobile Legends esports teams, including Aura PH, Onic PH, Cignal Ultra, Work Auster Force, Smart Omega Esports, Execration, Blacklist International, Nexplay Solid, Laus Auto Group Playbook Esports, and the defending champion Bren Esports.  

 

The teams will duke it out the arena in a round-robin format for a chance to win the coveted championship title and a cash prize of USD 120,000.  

 

Smart subscribers and avid esports fans can watch the action-packed games live on the Smart Facebook page and get a chance to win exciting prizes. Subscribers can also expect exclusive updates and freebies throughout the season. 

 

Since 2017, Smart has been the partner of Moonton in leveling up the Mobile Legends experience of Filipinos. Earlier this year, Smart also supported Moonton’s M2 World Championship, in which Bren Esports emerged as the first Filipino team to clinch the top prize.    

 

Empowering Filipino gamers  

 

Reinforcing its position as a staunch esports advocate, Smart enables Filipino gamers to level up their gameplay and keep connected with their peers via their favorite games with Free Games For All. With it, subscribers get a solid 1 GB/day, plus free 1 GB/day more to enjoy Mobile Legends and other top mobile games.

 

With over 43 million esports enthusiasts in the country, Smart is able to empower them with next-level speeds and ultra-low latency through its accelerated nationwide Smart 5G rollout - for a totally lag-free and more immersive gaming experience.  

 

Smart is at the forefront of the 5G revolution in the country as the first Philippine telco to launch commercial 5G service nationwide last July in Metro Manila, and strategic areas in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.    

Country's fastest mobile data network 

      

Smart 5G complements Smart’s continuous expansion of its 4G/LTE network. Smart’s mobile network is already the fastest in the country, as reported by third-party mobile internet analytics firm Ookla® and Opensignal.   

 

Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, named Smart as the country’s fastest mobile data network in the second half of 2020 after it achieved a Speed Score™ of 24.99, with average speeds of 20.08 Mbps for download, and 7.42 Mbps for upload, based on 3,915,679 user-initiated tests taken with Speedtest®.  Ookla has also cited Smart as the country's fastest mobile data network for three years in a row now*.    

 

On the other hand, Opensignal, an independent mobile analytics firm, noted in its November 2020 Mobile Network Experience Report for the Philippines** that Smart remained ahead of the competition in terms of Video Experience, Upload and Download Speed Experience, 4G Availability, and 4G Coverage Experience.   

      

For updates on Smart’s eSports initiatives, follow Smart on Facebook at facebook.com/SmartCommunications , Twitter and Instagram (@LiveSmart).  

 

 

 *Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data for 2018 through Q3-Q4 2020. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.     

 

** Opensignal Award s – Philippines: Mobile Network Experience Report November 2020, based on independent analysis of mobile measurements recorded during the period July 1 – September 28, 2020 © 2021 Opensignal Limited.