DITO Telecommunity Corp. has announced significant growth in its subscriber base now past the 13 million mark as it aims to reach 16 million by the end of 2024.
The company attributes its success to an extensive network that currently covers over 86 percent of the population. This milestone was celebrated during a thanksgiving gala held in Makati City on Tuesday when DITO chief executive officer, Eric Alberto, emphasized the importance of this achievement.
“As we approach our third year since our commercial launch, DITO has reached an incredible milestone—surpassing 13 million subscribers. This is not just a number; it represents the trust and confidence that millions of Filipinos have placed in us,” Alberto said. He expressed optimism on the company’s future.
Founded on March 8, 2021, DITO entered the Philippine telecommunications market with the goal of disrupting the duopoly held by Globe Telecom and PLDT Inc. Alberto highlighted the company’s resilience in overcoming stringent regulatory requirements and challenges that have arisen over the past few years.
“Despite these challenges, we not only met but exceeded expectations. We successfully passed our fifth and final independent audit, achieving over 86 percent population coverage and delivering impressive speed, surpassing the government’s minimum hurdle requirement of 55 Mbps,” he noted.
The company has invested over P250 billion in its network infrastructure over the past five years, resulting in more than 7,000 operational cell sites across the country. This expansion has played a crucial role in DITO’s rapid subscriber growth and service enhancement.
Alberto also emphasized the impact DITO has had on the telecommunications landscape, particularly regarding data pricing. “In 2015, the price of data stood at $11 per GB; by 2022, we had reduced it to just $0.52 per GB. This transformation is a testament to the positive impact of healthy competition and the undeniable benefits it brings to consumers,” he said.
Moreover, the improvement in internet speed has been significant. According to Alberto, the Philippines has moved from 100th place to 81st in global rankings for average internet speed, increasing from just 10 Mbps in 2017 to 23 Mbps in 2022. DITO’s mobile broadband speeds have been particularly noteworthy, with 4G services averaging over 90 Mbps and 5G services exceeding 580 Mbps.
Looking ahead, DITO aims to achieve EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization) positivity by the end of 2025 and to become profitable by 2028. To support these goals, its parent company, DITO CME Holdings Corp., plans to raise up to P40.26 billion until 2028 to address negative equity position and finance ongoing expansion efforts.
As of the end of 2023, DITO has already raised P5.5 billion through private investments from third parties, including Xterra Ventures, Summit Telco Corporation, and Summit Telco Holdings Corporation.
The company’s rapid growth is indicative of its commitment to providing affordable and reliable telecommunications services to the Filipino population. DITO’s entry into the market has already begun to reshape consumer expectations and industry standards, promoting a competitive landscape that benefits all.
As the telecommunications industry in the Philippines continues to evolve, DITO’s ambitious subscriber targets and ongoing investments in infrastructure are set to play a critical role in enhancing connectivity and internet access across the archipelago. With its strong performance in subscriber growth and infrastructure development, DITO Telecommunity is poised to become a formidable player in the Philippine telecommunications sector.
