Globe hits P21-B mobile data revenues in Q1

Globe Telecom Inc. reported a P20.8 billion mobile data revenues in three months, first time it ever did so, from January to March 2022, as pandemic restrictions ease and user mobility surged.

Mobile data now accounts for 78 percent of the telco's mobile revenues, from 73 percent a year ago.

With increased digitalization, Filipinos have turned to mobile data over traditional voice and SMS services, which is evident in the sustained growth of mobile data traffic on Globe’s network.

Overall, mobile data traffic soared by 27 percent to 1,058 petabytes from January to March this year, up from 836 petabytes in the same period last year– also a new quarterly record.

Likewise, mobile data monthly Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) grew to 9.4 gigabytes per month, 22 percent more than full-year 2021 and 5 percent more than last quarter.

Moving forward into the year, Globe sees encouraging growth in the mobile segment from improved mobility and the continuing economic recovery.

Globe has regained its mobile business momentum on the back of its prepaid brands, including GOMO, which uses data as currency and is geared towards those who use mobile data over traditional voice and SMS services.

“We are pleased to regain our momentum in Mobile, led by our prepaid brands, given easing up of mobility restrictions starting March,” noted Darius Delgado, Head of Globe Consumer Mobile Business.

“We will continue to stay the course and differentiate in the market, while maintaining competitiveness in terms of connectivity because connectivity has become hygienic," he elaborated.

"We will also sustain investments in the mobile network to maintain consistency scores that lead in the market, which we’ve seen happen in the first quarter,” Delgado added.

Globe is confident that its network is ready to support the rising demand for mobile connectivity with its continuous builds all over the country.

This year, the company earmarked P89 billion in capital expenditures after spending an all-time high of P92.8 billion, the majority of which was for network expansion and improvements in 2021.

The amount will be used to put up more cell sites, upgrade towers to 4G LTE, roll out more 5G sites and in-building solutions, and lay down more fiber-to-the-home lines.