Connectivity has grown to match the importance of traditional utilities such as water, electricity and transportation in supporting daily life and economic progress across the Philippines, according to Globe. The service now underpins how Filipinos work, study, access healthcare, manage finances, operate businesses, receive government aid and stay in touch during emergencies. Carl Cruz, president and CEO of Globe, noted that as connectivity evolves into the country’s fifth utility, the company’s responsibility extends beyond building networks to ensuring they are reliable, resilient, secure and accessible for all.
Shifting usage patterns highlight this growing dependence, with data making up 89 percent of Globe’s total mobile service revenues, up from 85 percent the previous year. In the first quarter of 2026, the firm counted around 67 million mobile subscribers, of whom more than 39 million were active data users. Average monthly data use reached roughly 16 gigabytes per subscriber, driven by streaming, social media, gaming, digital payments and other online activities, while the GlobeOne app drew an average of 8 million monthly users.
To keep up with rising demand, Globe directed around 90 percent of its capital spending to data infrastructure in 2025. Over that year, it rolled out more than 1,500 new 5G sites, added over 115,000 fiber-to-the-home lines and lifted 4G population coverage to 96.41 percent. The company is also building a unified network ecosystem combining mobile, fiber, subsea cables, satellite links, wireless optics and data centers, aiming to deliver steady service in both cities and remote communities while supporting advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
These efforts align with the Philippine government’s newly approved National Digital Connectivity Plan, which seeks to build fast, secure and affordable internet to boost public services, disaster response and inclusive growth. The plan prioritizes expanding access in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, improving cybersecurity and attracting more investment to ensure no Filipino is left behind in the digital shift. Globe stated it will continue to invest in future-ready infrastructure to make connectivity as trusted and essential as any other basic utility.
