Globe Telecom raised its network capital spending by 39% year-over-year to ₱26.3 billion in the first half of 2026, with 91% of it going toward data infrastructure, even as the company keeps its full-year capex on track to remain below $1 billion. The investment accelerated Globe’s 5G rollout, pushing outdoor population coverage past 98% across Metro Manila and key cities in the Visayas and Mindanao, while extending coverage to at least 80% of the population in non-key cities nationwide.
Data infrastructure absorbs most of the spend
According to Globe’s own disclosure, capex represented 31% of service revenues for the period, and the company said it remains on track to keep full-year spending below $1 billion.
The 5G rollout pushed outdoor population coverage to over 98% across Metro Manila and key cities in the Visayas and Mindanao, while extending 5G to at least 80% of the population in non-key cities nationwide.
Carl Cruz, president and CEO of Globe, said the investments are “about more than expanding capacity,” calling them part of an effort to deliver “a better everyday experience for our customers” and extend “reliable, high-quality connectivity” to more Filipinos.
Independent testing backs up the investment
Globe pointed to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data covering the second half of 2024 through the first half of 2026 as evidence that the spending is paying off. The company has been named Most Consistent Mobile Provider four times in a row, Widest Mobile 5G Coverage twice in a row, and Most Consistent Home Internet twice in a row.
What this means for BPO clients and providers
Globe is betting that disciplined, targeted infrastructure spending will help it win network leadership and customer loyalty in a market where reliable connectivity increasingly determines who gets business. Its capex surge, with 91% allocated to data infrastructure and 5G now covering more than 98% of the outdoor population in key cities, translates into more reliable connectivity and greater expansion headroom for BPO operations outside Metro Manila.
For BPO and EOR leaders scouting sites or managing uptime SLAs, this suggests Globe is prioritizing network resilience in secondary cities, not just capital cities.
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Globe Telecom. (2026, August 19). Globe Invests ₱26.3 Billion in the First Half of 2026 to Strengthen Network Leadership and Customer Experience. Retrieved from https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/newsroom/corporate/globe-invests-p26-3b-h1-2026-network-5g
Manila Standard. (2026, August 31). Globe invests ₱26.3 billion in first half of 2026 to strengthen network leadership and customer experience. Retrieved from https://manilastandard.net/tech/business0/314785927/globe-invests-%E2%82%B126-3-billion-in-first-half-of-2026-to-strengthen-network-leadership-and-customer-experience.html
The Voice News Weekly. (2026, August 31). Globe pours ₱26.3B into network. Retrieved from https://thevoicenewsweekly.com/globe-pours-₱126-3b-into-network/
