Globe installs additional 5G sites in Visayas, Mindanao

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said on Tuesday it has expanded its 5G coverage across the Visayas and Mindanao regions, with the installation of 41 new sites in 2023.

Broken down, Globe added 27 additional 5G sites in Visayas and 14 in Mindanao, as part of a broader initiative aimed at bolstering digital infrastructure in key sectors such as health, education, finance, and entertainment.

“Our 5G expansion in Visayas in Mindanao is a major milestone in our journey towards creating a truly digital Philippines. We are not only enhancing connectivity for Filipinos but also enabling a myriad of opportunities for businesses, communities, and the country as a whole,” said Joel Agustin, Globe’s Senior Vice President for Network Planning and engineering.

As of 2023, Globe has achieved an outdoor coverage of 92.36 percent in key cities across Visayas and Mindanao, and 97.90 percent in the National Capital Region. This extensive coverage has facilitated connectivity for over 5.8 million devices on Globe’s 5G network in December alone, highlighting the company’s dedication to technological advancement and service excellence.

Last year, Globe spent $1.3 billion in capital expenditures (capex), majority or 91 percent of which was allotted to boost data infrastructure to address the increasing demand for data connectivity that surged during the pandemic’s digital shift.

After frontloading network development in recent years, Globe has trimmed its capex in 2024 to $1 billion from $1.3 billion in 2023. These cost-cutting measures are expected to continue into 2025, with the company targeting a capex below $1 billion.

Globe expects its revenues to continue growing by “low to midsingle digit” this year due to economic headwinds.

In 2023, Globe saw its profits dwindling by 29 percent to P24.58 billion from P34.61 billion, no thanks to higher depreciation expenses coupled with non-operating charges that fully offset the 3-percent increase in revenues.

Globe’s top line stood at P162.33 billion, a new record high, from P157.98 billion as its mobile and corporate data businesses as well as non-telco services posted “robust growth.”