Synergy of Globe’s core telco and portfolio companies delivers wins for customers

In the bustling city of Barcelona, before an audience of tech enthusiasts and innovators at this year’s Mobile World Congress, Globe Group president and CEO Ernest Cu shared insights that are reshaping the telecom landscape in the Philippines. Globe, once a traditional telco, is now steering its ship towards becoming a techco, with a mission that goes beyond mere connectivity.

Cu’s words resonated with ambition and vision: “What we decided to do was shift our focus to become a purpose-led company. And being purpose-led means going beyond just winning the telco game. It is helping our countrymen live their daily lives and helping the country improve its stature in the world.”

This renewed purpose was evident when Globe took on the challenge of financial inclusion. In a country where a significant number of citizens were unbanked and only a handful had credit cards, digital payments seemed like a distant dream. But Globe, in partnership with Ant Financial, relaunched GCash in 2017. Today, GCash stands tall as the leading e-wallet platform in the Philippines.

But Globe’s aspirations didn’t stop at financial services. It is on a relentless quest to identify and address significant challenges through scalable digital solutions. 

With over 56 million active customers in the mobile segment, Globe’s telco roots provide a robust foundation for its expanding ventures. This advantage allows Globe to venture into realms such as digital marketing solutions, venture capital funding startups, virtual healthcare, e-commerce, business outsourcing, adtech, edutech, media, entertainment, and more, always staying a step ahead of the competition.

While Globe’s transformative journey promises innovation, it’s not without challenges. Cu highlighted the dual hurdles of building trust with Filipinos, who often approach new digital solutions with skepticism, and navigating the traditional mindsets of regulators.

Reflecting on Globe’s transformative journey, Cu said, “This transformation is not happening overnight. It’s not about deciding to do this one year and the next year we’re done. It has been a 14-year journey which I started when I joined Globe. We will continue to do this, and hopefully, with the support of our government and our partners, we will bring about a better life for the citizens of our country.”