Globe Sees Better Prepaid Data Uptake, Higher Mobile Revenues As Pandemic Restrictions Ease

Globe sees better prepaid data uptake and mobile revenues this year as the government eases pandemic restrictions and the economy begins to open up.

Darius Delgado, Head of Globe Consumer Mobile Business, said customer mobility is a huge factor in the consumption of prepaid mobile data packs and promos. People often use mobile data when they travel, socialize, and go out for entertainment, or even in school or at their place of work.

While some establishments provide free WiFi access, most public places do not offer such service. In addition, many customers prefer the better experience they get from using Globe’s mobile data network versus shared public WiFi.

“During the lockdowns, we see our prepaid top-ups decline. It’s because those who have broadband connections at home offload their usage to broadband, while those whose incomes are affected by the lockdowns control their spending. But then we see recovery as soon as restrictions are lifted. So we expect improvements in the take-up of our prepaid data packs,” he said.

Globe mobile brands are most vulnerable to mobility restrictions given high broadband penetration and a sizable base of customers belonging to families with incomes highly affected by lockdowns. As restrictions ease and people get to move around more freely, the financially constrained segment can start rebuilding their spending capacity.

Delgado, however, said it might take time for the mobile business to return to pre-pandemic levels due to customer behavior changes. As broadband penetration increases, data usage and household spending will now be split between mobile and broadband, regardless of mobility restrictions.

“We expect our mobile business to grow in step with total industry growth, which is now a low single-digit growth,” he said.

In its recently released full-year report, Globe said home broadband and corporate data were key drivers in revenue growth, as it logged record consolidated service revenues of P151.5 billion last year. This is a 4% rise from P146.4 billion a year earlier and surpassed 2019’s pre-pandemic level by 2%. It said total data revenues across mobile, broadband and corporate data accounted for 80% of total service revenues, up from 76% last year.

Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, highlighting the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. It is committed to upholding the UN Global Compact principles and contributing to 10 UN SDGs.

To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.