In its Philippines Mobile Broadband Forecast (Q1 2025), GlobalData noted that while revenues from mobile voice services are expected to decline at a CAGR of 9.2% from 2024 to 2029, reflecting a decrease in average revenue per user (ARPU) for mobile voice, and mobile data service revenues are anticipated to grow at a robust CAGR of 7.2%. This growth is attributed to the rising adoption of 5G services.

The average monthly mobile data usage is expected to rise significantly, from 8.7 GB in 2024 to approximately 17.7 GB in 2029. This increase is fueled by the growing consumption of high-bandwidth online video services and social media content on smartphones.

Kantipudi Pradeepthi, a Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, stated, “4G will remain the leading mobile technology by subscriptions in the Philippines until 2028. 5G subscriptions will surpass 4G subscriptions and go on to account for 53% share of the total mobile subscriptions in 2029, driven by the network expansion initiatives by the mobile operators.”

However, by 2029, 5G subscriptions are projected to surpass those of 4G, capturing 53% of the total mobile subscriptions, thanks to the network expansion efforts by mobile operators. For example, Globe Telecom has been actively expanding its 5G coverage, which reached 98.71% in Metro Manila and 97.97% in major cities across the Visayas and Mindanao as of Q1 2025. The company has also added 487 new towers and upgraded 3,940 existing sites to enhance network performance in high-traffic areas.

Pradeepthi concluded, “PLDT and Globe Telecom will continue to lead the mobile services market in terms of subscriptions through 2028, given their strong focus on 5G network expansion across the country.”