Adding to its growing list of awards, Smart Axiata continues its way up to be the market leader with its advanced networks, innovative digital services, and national contribution to the Kingdom.

The honour of being Cambodia’s Mobile Service Provider 2016 was given to Smart by market research firm Frost & Sullivan, primarily for its overall business strategies and outstanding performance amidst a densely competitive market. These strategies include its digitally value-added services the likes of SmartLuy, Smart Music, Smart Loan, iCalluPay, and Smart Tunes.

The past year has seen Smart pulling more weight on its 4G LTE value proposition by establishing exclusive partnerships with topnotch device and content providers. In partnering with Apple, Smart gained the exclusive rights to sell iPhones and iPads in attractive bundled packages while its collaboration with Universal Music gave rise to Smart Music – the country’s first ever music streaming application. SmartLuy was also launched for customers to be able to transfer funds and conduct digital transactions.

It was handed the prestigious award thanks to its national contribution to the country; Smart Life Insurance is the inaugural mobile insurance in Cambodia, in partnership with leading global micro-insurance provider BIMA, and this has seen Smart’s meteoric status as now being the largest provider of life insurance in the country based on the number of people insured through Smart alone.

“On the back of a growing mobile-data user base and strong uptake of digital services, Smart has recorded an exponential growth in its Data and Value Added Services, which has significantly contributed to overall revenue growth. Through its continuous investment in advanced mobile networks and more profitable digital services, Smart has delivered an all-round performance in a highly competitive market,” said AvinashSachdeva, Senior Industry Analyst of Telecom Digital Transformation Practice at Frost & Sullivan for Asia Pacific.

Mr Sachdeva also said that Smart has successfully emerged as one of the chief lifestyle brands in Cambodia.

Smart CEO Thomas Hundt welcomed the award, noting the contribution of the entire team in relentlessly pursuing the provision of the best and most affordable mobile access and services to its 8 million customers in the country.

“All our employees at Smart always strive to be better than who we were yesterday to win the hearts of all Cambodians and to allow us serving them. This latest award by Frost & Sullivan is another gift to all employees of Smart and another great opportunity to thank our customers, partners, stakeholders and friends for their constant support,” Mr Hundt said.

To that, Mr Hundt added, Smart continues to play an imperative role in Cambodia’s ICT sector. A fine example was its $275 million contribution to the national economy, a figure which represents 1.5 percent of Cambodia’s economy, and which supports more than 40,000 jobs.

Other awards that Smart Axiata has bagged this year include Best Performance in the Private Sector at the Cambodia ICT Awards, the Telecom Asia Award for the Best Community Project for its involvement in Cambodia’s National Literacy Campaign in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport as well as UNESCO, and Best Telco and Best CSR Company by Global Banking and Finance Review.