Smart Underscores Role of Education, Community Building in the Development of PH ESports

In the recent Estudyante Esports SumMEET supported by Smart GIGA Arena, in partnership with Dark League Studios, Smart Omega, the professional esports team backed by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), shared that education is important in the development of the esports industry in the Philippines.

“Education is a must, not just a plus. As esports is a growing industry, certain functions are needed to make sure that operations are met, and most of it will come from the staff and teams behind the scenes, creating a whole ecosystem of experts in your organization,” said Smart Omega’s Chief Marketing Officer Froi Endaya during his talk at the event.

Smart Omega Chief Operations Officer Patrick Cruz also reminded the students and guests at the Estudyante Esports SumMEET that a career of an esports player goes by very fast. “We always remind our players to finish their education. When you do, full buff ka na, kumpleto na items mo, hindi ka na GG.” [When you do, you are already at your highest level, your items are all complete, you can’t lose.]

Inspiring the youth to contribute to community-building

Endaya also said that Smart Omega was created to capture the hearts of aspiring Filipino gamers and take their talents to the world stage. “Because we believe Filipinos can excel in esports.”

The fast-growing local esports industry has seen Filipino players reach the world stage as part of local and international teams and organizations. Smart Omega esports athletes from different game categories have participated in many global tournaments held in Singapore, Indonesia, and the United States of America; and even represented the country as national athletes during the recent Southeast Asian Games as part of the SIBOL delegation.

“It is our mission to be present in many stages of esports – from grassroots to professional to even the national level and build a healthy community here and overseas. We want to be the leader in developing and cultivating a culture of young Filipino esports champion athletes that can compete globally,” said Jude Turcuato, PLDT and Smart Head of Sports.

In 2023, Smart and Dark League signed a multi-year partnership to support amateur esports leagues across the country and boost the growth of Philippine esports through various programs and grassroots tournaments.

“We also further strengthened our hold on the esports industry by partnering with Dark League’s initiative, Estudyante Esports, and supporting its programs like certificate courses, electives, and other necessary training that equip Filipinos with the skills, understanding, and competency that they need in the industry of esports,” said Melvin Consunji Nubla, FVP and Group Head, Go-to-Market and Subscriber Management at Smart.

As a leading mobile services provider, Smart has been heavily investing in its mobile network to provide its customers the best mobile experience possible and meet the evolving needs of Filipino mobile gamers – including the creation of Smart GIGA Arena, the country’s first all-in-one esports platform that lets users match up with fellow players to compete in daily, weekly, and monthly tournaments.

“Smart GIGA Arena is part of Smart’s long-standing support for Philippine esports to cultivate the passion, skill, and talent of Filipino gamers, providing them with a safe space to hone their skills. The platform has also showed us talented esports athletes from the grassroots level that showed great potential to move forward and become professional gamers,” added Nubla.

Since its launch in 2022, Smart GIGA Arena has brought in over 1 million users, launched over 500 games in both solo and team categories, and given away a prize pool of around P1.6 million to the delight of Filipino gamers nationwide.

Powering this program is Smart's mobile network, which covered 97% of the population with 4G/LTE and 5G as of end-2023. This mobile network is supported by PLDT's fiber infrastructure of 1.1 million cable kilometers, including international and domestic fiber.

Smart's initiatives to offer relevant mobile data services and platforms to Filipinos are aligned with the PLDT Group’s endeavors to narrow the digital divide and provide connectivity to all, supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) particularly on SDG No. 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. These also reinforce PLDT Group’s support for the Government's overall digitalization thrust.

The Estudyante Esports SumMEET is an initiative of Dark League Studios to promote and cultivate gaming and esports in various schools and universities, together with partners from the Philippine Basketball Association, the Philippine Esports Organization (PESO), Honda, mWell, and the Philippine Sports Commission. 

Elabram Systems Group at LTE MENA, Dubai

Just recently, Elabram Systems Group Managing Director Mikel Yaw participated as one of the distinguished speakers at LTE World Summit- Middle East and North America (LTE MENA) and happened at Conrad, Dubai. The event main objective is to position the Middle East and North America at the forefront of the connected world. Directors like John Tey, Tommy Ng and Muhammad Fathi Ali from Malaysia joined Mikel in Dubai and shared the Elabram Systems Group (ESG) solutions to the attendees such as Network Planning & Optimization (NPO), Talent Acquisition & Deployment (TAD),

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO).According to its official website, LTE MENA 2015 returned to Dubai this May 2015 for the 5th year and fulfilled the promises to be the most exciting event,  reflected the  impressive progression of the region over the last 12 months. More than 800+ attendees participated, more than 50+ Operators came and more than 50+ exhibitors shared their products and services. Middle East Operators such as Etisalat and Du are working towards increased network capacity, improved QoS for consumers and better monetization of new and current services. Challenging the leading innovators in the mobile broadband market, they are beginning to drive the connected revolution towards LTE-A, IOT, Smart Cities and 5G. The emerging markets of the region continue to rollout LTE and expand their networks. Encountering different challenges and following different business models to their more established neighbors, they are beginning to harness the potential of LTE and drive revenues from new services.

LTE MENA 2015 took a balanced look at both markets. Examining real case studies, the event incorporated advanced issues such as LTE-A, VoLTE, Video, Carrier-aggregation and 5G with LTE rollout success stories from emerging markets.

In addition the most senior speaker line-up seen to date, the event  offered unparalleled networking opportunities, through round table sessions, panel discussions, speed networking, in-depth focus sessions and a considerable exhibition floor bringing together MENA’s leading solution providers. The Elabram Systems  Group (ESG) Directors participated in the Speed Networking, Signalling and Focus sessions.  Also, ESG took advantage the booth space to share to the attendees a more detailed explanations of the solutions.

Elabram Systems Group is already 16 years in delivering quality solutions to different multinational and global companies worldwide and expanding to different industries such as Telecommunications, Mining, Information Technology and FMCG with headquarter in Malaysia and offices at Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Singapore and with more than 6000 manpower around the globe delivering quality solutions to different global companies.

For more information: mariagracia.n@elabram.com or please visit http://www.elabram.com

Ericsson At The Forefront Of Industry Transformation At Mobile World Congress 2015

Elie Hanna
President and Country Manager
Philippines and Pacific Islands

•    Predictions for 2015 focus on video, LTE subscriber growth and mobile broadband coverage
•    Announces hyper scale upgrade to Ericsson Cloud System —adding new software and hardware to ensure a secure cloud experience
•    Broad set of new launches support operator needs across network evolution, IT transformation and opportunities for innovation and revenue growth
Telecommunications operators are transforming their businesses and operations, according to the role they have chosen to play as either Network Developers, Service Enablers or Service Creators.
Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC)  also continues to transform in its role as an ICT player, and builds on its  position in Mobile Broadband and Telecom Managed Services, while reinforcing its position in Cloud, IP, TV&Media, OSS/BSS.
“These were the key reflections of our President and CEO, Hans Vestberg, as he talked about the pace of change in the industry at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.  We predict four key changes during 2015: more people will watch streamed, on-demand video than broadcast TV on a weekly basis; video will generate half of the mobile data traffic; LTE subscriber growth will exceed 80 percent; and world mobile broadband coverage will be above 70 percent. These are all massive forces of change and open up new opportunities both in the ICT industry and in other industries,”Elie Hanna, President of Ericsson Philippines and Pacific Islands, shared.
Ericsson sees a new logic being applied across industries. “We can see a definite shift from physical products to digital services. New business models are emerging, along with new ways of solving old problems that create new efficiencies. True customer intimacy can be created using digital tools. All in all, you can see that ICT drives transformation that is really changing the game,” Hanna added.

At the recently-concluded Mobile World Congress, Ericsson showed its full range of capabilities, supporting a broad variety of customer needs. Elevennew launches were lined up with a common theme of transformation and advancing digital experiences.  These launches included: Media Delivery Network, Digital Telco Transformation, Expert Analytics 15.0, Hyperscale Cloud, Maritime ICT Cloud (from CES), Connected Traffic Cloud, App Experience Optimization, Networks Software 15B, LTE License Assisted Access (from CES), Ericsson Router 6000 Series, and the Ericsson Radio System.
Ericsson Radio System – meeting growing user demands
The new Ericsson Radio System is designed to improve app coverage for mobile device users in the face of an 8X growth in smartphone traffic between 2014 and 2020, by which time 90 % of the world's population over six years old is predicted to have a mobile phone.  The Ericsson Radio System puts operators on the road to 5G by delivering industry-leading performance – on Ericsson’s Many-Core Baseband Architecture – while drastically reducing energy requirements, site space, and install time. 
Hanna said that “we consider the new Ericsson Radio System as the gold standard in radio – it’s a completely new approach on how to build radio networks on the road to 5G, with the Router 6000 Series integrating IP backhaul into the radio.”   He further clarified that the company decided not to compromise on radio performance when introducing a new smaller macro radio. “Improvements have been made in the digital radio part by using System-on-Chip technology and by introducing new advanced power amplifier architecture and technology as well as using a high integration of electronics, which also improves overall power efficiency by up to 50%. Super compact filters are used to decrease the size further, while keeping performance high.”
Ericsson cloud system gets hyperscale upgrade
Ericsson also introduced its Hyperscale Cloud Solution in MWC, to meet the growing demand for cloud agility, operational scale and associated economics.  The Hyperscale Cloud solution at the same time mitigates existing concerns around security and governance as it slows the full adoption of cloud by the world’s largest enterprises.Our latest estimates indicate that 74 percent of the largest enterprises have not fully adopted cloud, citing security and governance as a concern. The Hyperscale Cloud Solution adds new software and hardware to ensure highly governed, secure and hyperscale cloud is possible while increasing speed and control.
New products in the Ericsson Cloud System include: Ericsson HDS 8000 (Hyperscale Datacenter System), built on Intel® Rack Scale Architecture, Ericsson Secure Cloud Storage and Ericsson Continuum ®, delivering the world’s best policy-driven platform for hybrid cloud, leveraging Ericsson’s investment in Apcera.
The Ericsson HDS 8000 is the first product in the world to include Intel Rack Scale Architecture. Ericsson and Intel have been working together for a long time across a numberof technology areas, and now the two companies are moving into the data center and delivering new solution building on that relationship.
Hanna said that “technology change is exponential in the ICT industry but investment in infrastructure cannot be. With Intel and other industry leaders we are bringing a hyperscale approach across both software and hardware. We are re-inventing the future data center concept from a total architecture and economics perspective.”
Seeing the network through users’ eyes with App Experience Optimization
App Experience Optimization was also launched as a new service,bringing app experience into the mix to give operators a more valuable view of network performance.  “Operators adapt and optimize their networks for data, which long ago surpassed voice traffic. But the new reality is not just data, it’s apps. And the biggest driver of smartphone customer loyalty is network performance. In this environment, network performance KPIs need to capture our operators’ in-app experience,” Hanna explained.
The Ericsson App Experience Optimization uses tailored measurements that give operators insights about availability, accessibility, integrity, and retainability, and which in turn allows Ericsson’s network design and optimization experts to optimize and fine-tune operators’ systems where it matters most to the consumer.

NOTES TO EDITORS
More information on Ericsson’s MWC highlights can be found on:   http://www.ericsson.com/mwc2015/
Download high-resolution photos and broadcast-quality video atwww.ericsson.com/press
Ericsson is the driving force behind the Networked Society – a world leader in communications technology and services. Our long-term relationships with every major telecom operator in the world allow people, business and society to fulfill their potential and create a more sustainable future.
Our services, software and infrastructure – especially in mobility, broadband and the cloud– are enabling the telecom industry and other sectors to do better business, increase efficiency, improve the user experience and capture new opportunities.
With approximately 115,000 professionals and customers in 180 countries,we combine global scale with technology and services leadership. We support networks that connect more than 2.5 billion subscribers. Forty percent of the world’s mobile traffic is carried over Ericsson networks. And our investments in research and development ensure that our solutions – and our customers – stay in front.
Founded in 1876, Ericsson has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Net sales in 2014 were SEK 228.0 billion (USD 33.1 billion). Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX stock exchange in Stockholm and the NASDAQ in New York.
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