MNOs in the Philippines expand 5G network reach
The major telcos in the Philippines saw a strong recovery in their financials in 2022, following a difficult though brief period of economic disruption during the pandemic. Globe Telecom reported a record high service revenue in 2022, supported by strong data revenue which accounted for 81% of the total. Mobile revenue was the second highest yet recorded by the company. Consolidated EBITDA increased 6% in the year, also reaching a record level. For its part, PLDT also had a very strong year in 2022, producing record revenue results. Revenue increased 4%, year-on-year, and EBITDA also increased 4%.PLDT and Globe Telecom have maintained their dominance of the Philippines telecom market, despite having their duopoly status having been removed by the government in 2017. Two new entrants and DITO Telecommunity and NOW Telecom and have since become the third and fourth operators, but delays in their respective launch programs has resulted in them having only a minimal impact on market share. Nevertheless, DITO reported having 15 million subscribers at the end of 2022, showing strong growth since the launch of services.
The government remains keen, and committed, to seeing strong competition, growth, and service excellence in the telecom sector, so there is likely to be continued support (financially as well as through legislation such as enabling mobile tower sharing and number portability) to ensure that the sector remains viable for emerging players.
The mobile sector will remain the Philippines primary market for telecommunications well into the future. The unique terrain and resulting challenges associated with accessing remote parts of the archipelago means that in many areas fixed networks are neither cost-effective nor logistically viable. Both PLDT and Globe Telecom continue to roll out fixed networks in some urban areas where it remains feasible to do so (primarily to support fixed broadband or in Globe Telecom's case fixed wireless services). However, the bulk of telecoms investment over the coming years will continue to be in 5G and 5G-enabled LTE networks. Coverage of LTE and 5G networks extends to over 95% of the population, and for the vast majority of people mobile will likely remain their only platform for telecom services.
Key Developments:
ASE cable system consortium contracts Ciena to increase the cable's capacity by 193%.NOW secures a PhP118 million grant from the US Trade and Development Agency to support its 5G rollout.
Telecom regulator extends SIM card registration deadline by three months due to low take-up.
SpaceX's Starlink satellite broadband service is launched to cover rural areas of the Philippines.
PLDT enters deal to acquire Sky Vision for PhP6.75 billion.
Smart and Digitel Mobile sign a third ten-year sale and leaseback arrangement relating to telecom towers.
DITO increases mobile market share by subscribers.
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Table of Contents
- Key statistics
- Regional Asia market comparison
- Market characteristics
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
- TMI vs GDP
- Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
- Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration
- Telecommunications market
- Market overview
- Regulatory environment
- Regulatory authority
- Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT)
- Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)
- Fixed-line developments
- Interconnection
- Foreign ownership rules
- Access
- Mobile network developments
- SIM registration
- Mobile spectrum
- Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- Network sharing
- Mobile market
- Major mobile operators
- Smart Communications
- Globe Telecom
- NOW Telecom
- DITO Telecommunity
- Mobile infrastructure
- 5G
- 4G / LTE
- Mobile broadband
- Fixed broadband market
- Fixed broadband statistics
- Fixed broadband service providers
- PLDT
- Globe Telecom
- Fixed broadband technologies
- Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
- Wi-Fi
- Fixed network market
- Fixed network operators
- PLDT
- Globe Telecom
- Telecommunications infrastructure
- National telecom network
- National Broadband Network (NBN)
- Internet Exchange Points (IXPs)
- International infrastructure
- Submarine
- International gateway facilities (IGFs)
- Satellite systems
- Data Centres
- Data centre providers
- Appendix - Historic data
- Glossary of abbreviations
- Related reports
List of Tables
List of Charts
List of Exhibits
