Globe vs PLDT: Which had more mobile subscribers in 2018?

Globe Telecom and PLDT, through its mobile subsidiary Smart Communications, are offering packages, plans, and programs to acquire more postpaid and prepaid subscribers. We’ve been covering subscriber counts for both companies the past years (2016, 2017), and it’s now time to update it with our latest edition, this time from their 2018 reports. Which telco reigned supreme? Let’s find out.

These data came from both of the companies’ 2018 and Q1 2019 SEC filings which detail not only their financial growth and in-year recap but also the details of their year-end subscriber base. Let’s take a look:

If we’re comparing the numbers to year-end of the previous year, both Globe and Smart increased their total number of active subscribers. TNT posted more new subscribers than Smart Prepaid itself (11% increase for TNT compared to Smart Prepaid’s 0% growth), and now is the most used prepaid network in PLDT. PLDT’s mobile arm has seen noticeable decreases particularly with Sun Cellular, which saw subscriber counts for both prepaid and postpaid go down by 12% and 21%, respectively. We see this as a surprising result considering Sun revamped its offers and started to offer more phones under its postpaid plans last year.

Globe, on the other hand, saw double-digit subscriber growth in the prepaid segment with 12% and 13% for both Globe and TM, respectively. Its postpaid base also grew by 4% compared to 2017 figures.

When we compare the Mass-targeted MNVOs (Mobile Network Virtual Operators) alone, TM increased by 21% from last year and is still ahead of PLDT’s TNT.

The increased results on the prepaid side for both telcos stems from the NTC’s order on expanding prepaid load validities to one year which took effect last year. The said order made both telco companies’ total number of subscribers grow over the year, with Globe posting a 22% growth and PLDT with 4% increase.

In conclusion, Globe Telecom is now the undisputed leader in the country in terms of subscriber count, both for postpaid and prepaid.

References: PLDT, Globe