GLOBE TELECOM, INC. is more likely to set a capital expenditure (capex) budget of about $1 billion (around P59.39 billion) this 12 months because it ramps up network expansion, its president said.
“Most of it would really go to data services. Roughly the identical level at $1 billion in money capex,” Globe President and Chief Executive Officer Carl Raymond R. Cruz told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Friday.
Many of the company’s capex shall be allocated to network expansion, including data services and its fiber network, he said, adding that Globe is working to strengthen its fiber infrastructure.
“Fiber network is essential. It accounts for the information traffic, especially with artificial intelligence (AI), data traffic will really increase by probably tenfold,” Mr. Cruz said.
For 2025, Globe set a capex guidance of below $1 billion, which was allocated to essential network upgrades. As of September 2025, the corporate said it had invested about P31.4 billion in capital expenditures.
On Friday, Globe partnered with Elon Musk’s Starlink to bring direct-to-cell satellite services to the Philippines, making the country the primary in Southeast Asia to supply the technology.
Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology allows mobile devices to attach on to low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, providing text, voice, and data connectivity, particularly in distant areas with limited coverage.
The initiative forms a part of the Ayala-led telecommunications company’s efforts to ramp up investments in technologies aimed toward helping bridge the country’s digital and connectivity gap.
Globe targets the business rollout of the service by end-March, the corporate said.
Within the third quarter of 2025, Globe’s attributable net income declined by 12.79% to P5.25 billion from P6.02 billion, while revenues fell by 1.68% to P44.36 billion from P45.12 billion.
For the nine months ended September, net income dropped by 14.04% to P17.69 billion from P20.58 billion, while gross revenues slipped to P131.59 billion from P134.74 billion.
Mr. Cruz said the corporate continues to see growth opportunities in data centers amid rising demand.
Globe stays looking out for potential data center expansion, he said, noting that its data center in Fairview is on the right track for full completion this 12 months.
“Yes, actually, we have already got a tenant. We now have not officially opened it however it is already operational,” he said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose