More Filipinos have embraced the digital lifestyle using connectivity for work, education, entertainment, health, socializing, banking, and online shopping. Ongoing network upgrades to 4G LTE coupled with efforts to expand 5G in the country are helping drive the adoption of mobile data by giving internet access to more people.
In Globe’s case, mobile data already accounted for 73 percent of its mobile revenues in the first half of 2021, from 69 percent in the same period last year. Likewise, the company’s total mobile subscriber base grew by 2 percent to 81.7 million.
Globe said the figures are consistent with the recent study conducted by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company in the UK, which said that total mobile services revenue in the Philippines would hit US$5.4 billion by 2026 from the expected US$4.1 billion this year. This represents a cumulative annual growth rate of 5.6 percent over the next five years due to the increasing adoption of mobile data.
“4G subscriptions will surpass 3G in 2021, driven by the ongoing 4G/LTE network expansions and increase in the availability of 4G-enabled smartphones,” GlobalData telecom analyst Harika Damidi said.
4G LTE offers higher bandwidth and improved network responsiveness than 3G, which means lower latency, higher network capacity, backward compatibility, and future-proofing. On the other hand, 5G even provides faster connectivity and download speeds than 4G. It also offers ultra-low latency, greater bandwidth, superior network reliability, and the ability to connect to more devices.
“These latest findings are aligned with our efforts to bring first-world connectivity to more Filipinos to further enrich their digital lifestyle. We foresee this rapid digitization to continue beyond these pandemic times, thus our ongoing efforts to increase our 4G LTE footprint and expand our 5G network,” said Darius Delgado, Globe Head of Consumer Mobile Business.
To assure its customers of network consistency, Globe continuously invests in its network to carry the most advanced technologies like 4G LTE and 5G. For the first half of 2021, it installed at least 641 new cell towers in strategic locations all over the country and upgraded 8,175 mobile sites to 4G LTE. Meanwhile, it built 1,906 5G sites nationwide as of end-September, and laid down over one million high-speed broadband lines to date.
According to the same study, 5G services are expected to account for 22.5 percent of total mobile subscriptions by end-2026 in the Philippines. 5G technology’s improved performance and enhanced efficiency empower new user experiences and capabilities. It enables frontier technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Edge Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Industrial IoT, and immersive learning.
“We are at the cusp of a revolution that will build a more connected nation, creating substantial economic value while improving the quality of life across demographics. Advanced connectivity is the great equalizer, and we are proud to bring 4G and 5G technologies within reach of every Filipino,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO.
Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically UN SDG No. 9, which emphasizes the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. It is committed to upholding the UN Global Compact principles