5G is expected to empower Filipinos digitally

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Filipinos have become accustomed to using mobile data to access the internet for work, education, and entertainment. With the advent of 5G, the use of this wireless connectivity is only expected to increase.

Telecommunications giants Globe Telecom Inc. and PLDT Inc. have seen steady growth in mobile data traffic since the pandemic triggered a shift to digital platforms.

Last year, Globe saw its mobile data traffic grow 28 percent to 5,960 petabytes from 4,658 petabytes a year earlier. That was three times higher than its pre-pandemic record or in 2019.

Meanwhile, mobile data traffic facilitated by PLDT grew 11 percent to 4,898 petabytes last year. The latest print showed a more than three-fold increase from 1,600 petabytes in 2019.

“The pandemic has accelerated consumer adoption of data services via mobile and broadband connectivity as more Filipinos have transitioned to a digital lifestyle, whether it’s for work, study, business, entertainment or social media,” Globe vice president and head of consumer mobile business Darius Jose Delgado tells the Inquirer.

Alex Caeg, head of consumer business for PLDT’s wireless division, Smart Communications, explains that “these habits have become even more ingrained in Filipino lifestyles during the pandemic and continue to persist long after.”

“Filipinos are avid consumers of mobile data,” especially when it comes to streaming video, Caeg tells the Inquirer. Delgado notes that social media is also one of the reasons Filipinos use the internet.

The study, conducted by media intelligence firm Meltwater and creative agency We Are Social, reveals that 55.6 percent of internet users in the country aged 16 to 64 watch vlogs weekly. This is significantly higher than the global benchmark of 25.6 percent.

The same study reveals that Filipinos spend about three hours and 43 minutes on social media per day, which is higher than the global average of 2 hours and 31 minutes.

5G implementation

Expect to see increased mobile data traffic in the Philippines in the future as more Filipinos test 5G connectivity.

According to Statista, the Philippines’ mobile data market could reach $2.9 billion this year, slightly better than the $2.7 billion it reached in 2023. It is also estimated that the segment’s revenue will reach $3.7 billion by 2028.

Pekka Lundmark, president of global technology company Nokia, explains that 5G technology will likely enjoy greater interest in the country in the coming years thanks to the expansion of the related infrastructure.

“We saw that in many parts of the world, operators invested heavily in 5G in 2021 and 2022. Now they have a lot of bandwidth available,” he explains.

Globe’s 5G network covers 98.35 percent of the National Capital Region and 92.86 percent of key cities in VIsayas and Mindanao. The combined 5G and 4G Smart network is available to 97 percent of the population.

“We’re seeing faster adoption of 5G phones. Those who have adopted these 5G devices are benefiting from a better 5G network experience,” Caeg says.

The number of 5G-connected smart device users rose to 10 percent of total subscribers in the first quarter from 9 percent in late 2023. The Pangilinan-led telco has 59 million mobile subscribers.

Globe’s network, which has 57 million subscribers, powers over 6 million 5G devices.

However, Delgado notes that mobile data growth will continue to be primarily driven by 4G/LTE, given that “customer demand for 5G is still in its early stages.”

“From a consumer perspective, 4G/LTE mobile technology already provides fast internet speeds suitable for popular applications such as streaming movies and music and online gaming,” he added.

5G technology enables data download speeds of over 10 gigabits per second, 100 times faster than 4G.