Smartphone users in the Philippines

Globe Telecom expects higher revenues from mobile data business in the second half, on the back of the steady rise in the number of smartphone users.

“Growth in mobile data has been astounding and we see a tremendous amount of data stimulation due to the rise of smartphone usage among mobile customers. We continue to reap the gains of our network transformation with a more pervasive 3G and 4G network that helps drive mobile browsing adoption among our customers. The key is giving our customers a good data experience at prices they can easily afford,” Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu said.

Cu said the number of Globe customers using mobile data more than doubled over the last six months, led by the rising number of smartphone users, which now accounted for 25 percent of mobile subscriber base of close to 41 million.

He said the steady upturn in the use of data-capable devices, as the company continued to attract high-end customers in both postpaid and prepaid segments, would help sustain demand for data solutions and connectivity.

He said Globe’s free Facebook offer, which ran for six months until April 2014, introduced many Filipinos to the convenience of mobile browsing as it enabled customers to stay connected through the popular social networking site for free.

The telecommunications company also signed an exclusive partnership with Spotify, the global leader in music streaming service in April, giving Globe customers free all-day music experience on mobile through new data plans. 

Globe also has an ongoing partnership with Viber, the most popular chat application provider.
Globe’s consolidated revenues rose 9 percent year-on-year to P23.2 billion in the first quarter, following strong subscriber uptake in both mobile and broadband business and sustained demand for data connectivity. 

Mobile browsing and other data revenues accounted for 15 percent of total mobile service revenues at P2.8 billion, up by 12 percent from P2.5 billion a year earlier.

Globe’s broadband subscribers hit 2.19 million as of end-March, up from 1.74 million a year earlier.

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