Globe exec: Internet connectivity should be PH’s "fifth utility"

The government is urged to consider internet connectivity as the Philippines' "fifth utility," given how it influences Filipinos' participation in the modern economy.

File photo: Globe Speedtest

Internet as universal access

According to the top official of Globe Telecom, internet access is no longer a luxury as it is crucial like water, power, sanitation, and transport.

This, as Globe Telecom Inc. president and chief executive Carl Cruz is calling for policy reforms to boost telecommunications infrastructure across the country, including those in remote areas.

Filipinos deserve more than access; they deserve quality. That means policy must shift to enable inclusive, long-term strategic investments supporting the country's digital connectivity roadmap. Connectivity shouldn’t be a luxury. It’s the backbone of how people work, learn, and live today, Cruz said.

As the deployment of key assets demands heavy investments, Cruz hopes this will lead to universal access and reliable telecommunications services, while keeping the costs affordable for consumers.

For its part, Globe has started tapping sari-sari stores and auto repair shops to make them into digital touchpoints.

Globe ended 2025 with its earnings falling 4 percent to PHP 23.262 billion, as inflationary pressures and a series of calamities curbed consumer spending.

The group's revenues, however, logged modest growth at PHP 165.07 billion from PHP 165.01 billion a year ago. Its total mobile subscriber base reached 65.8 million, up 8 percent from 60.9 million.