Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz said the Philippines is entering a more connected and opportunity-driven phase of digital growth, noting that the country continues to outperform global benchmarks in mobile sector contribution to the economy.

Speaking at the GSMA Digital Nations Summit Manila, Cruz cited the GSMA Digital Nations APAC Report 2025, which estimates the mobile ecosystem’s contribution to Philippine GDP at 8.4–8.6%, higher than the global average of 7.7%. He added that despite shifts in the global mobile landscape, the country maintains strong momentum driven by a young population, heavy digital usage, and rising demand.

The Philippine telecom industry also invests at levels well above international norms. While operators worldwide allot around 16% of revenues to capital expenditures, local operators invest roughly 37%, signaling continued infrastructure expansion.

The Philippines remains one of the world’s most active digital communities, with Filipinos spending nearly nine hours online daily, ranking third globally. The country also places sixth worldwide in the adoption of AI tools like ChatGPT.

However, Cruz emphasized that tower density remains insufficient. The Philippines has about 40,000 towers for more than 115 million people, compared with Thailand’s 90,000 towers for a population of 70 million—showing significant unmet demand.

He also warned that growing AI use will place heavier demands on both mobile and fixed networks, underscoring the need for a national fiber backbone to support higher-capacity data transport and lower latency.

Globe executives at the summit likewise discussed key priorities including open APIs, cybersecurity, AI readiness, and digital inclusion—areas where industry-government collaboration will be vital.

Despite existing gaps, Cruz said the country’s outlook is strong, with Globe committed to strengthening its network and digital platforms to help unlock more opportunities for Filipinos.