Globe Telecom Inc. is leading in mobile video services on the fifth generation (5G) technology, surpassing its rival Smart Communications Inc., according to the latest report of OpenSignal.
In OpenSignal’s mobile network experience award in April, Globe is the new winner of the video experience award, replacing the previous winner, Smart.
“This means that Globe users have the best experience on average in the Philippines when streaming mobile video over cellular connections, measured across all generations of mobile technology,” OpenSignal said in a statement.
Out of five major awards on the overall experience for mobile video service in the country, Globe won three awards on voice experience, games experience and voice app experience.
Smart won the best download speed experience while DITO Telecommunity Corp. won the upload speed experience award.
“One factor that has played a role in Globe’s recent success is that it made its largest-ever annual investment in its mobile and fixed networks in 2022. In that year, it claims to have activated 1,702 new cell sites, upgraded around 13,600 to 4G, and installed 2,267 new 5G sites nationwide,” Opensignal said in a statement.
However, telecom firms are allocating lower capital expenditures (capex) this year.
“Globe is now looking to spend 30 percent less on capital expenditure in 2023 ($1.3 billion) with the goal of reducing it further in 2024. PLDT, Smart’s owner, is also looking to reduce its capex from 2023 onwards due to the discovery of its P48 billion ($880 million) overspending in this area — which was later reduced to P33 billion following settlements with suppliers. The company is looking to spend around P80-85 billion this year in capex,” Opensignal said.
DITO expects to spend P27 billion on its network this year which would take its total network spend to around P230 billion by the end of the year. – Myla Iglesais
