Globe Telecom Inc. expects better prepaid data uptake and mobile revenues this year as the government eases pandemic restrictions and the economy starts to open up.
Darius Delgado, Globe head of consumer mobile business, said customer mobility is a huge factor in the consumption of prepaid mobile data packs and promos.
“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. We expect improvements in the take-up of our prepaid data packs,” he said.
People often use mobile data when they travel, socialize and go out for entertainment, or even in school or at their place of work, Globe noted.
While some establishments provide free WiFi access, most public places do not offer such service. In addition, Globe said many customers prefer the better experience they get from using its mobile data network versus shared public WiFi.
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, posting record consolidated service revenues of P151.5 billion last year.
This is a 4 percent rise from P146.4 billion a year earlier and surpassed 2019’s pre-pandemic level by 2 percent.
Globe said total data revenues across mobile, broadband and corporate data accounted for 80 percent of total service revenues, up from 76 percent the previous year. – Myla Iglesias
