Ayala-backed Globe Telecom Inc. is shifting its network strategy from headline speeds to everyday reliability to improve service quality, as poor connectivity continues to limit digital participation, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

The company said Sunday it will prioritize real-world performance over peak speeds, focusing on stable video streaming, fast app loading, clear calls, and first-time transaction success.

“We build for reliability because that’s what people count on every day,” said Globe president and CEO Carl Cruz. “A steady, dependable connection means uninterrupted learning, working, and living. That’s what we aim to deliver.”

Globe said reliability is achieved through added capacity in high-traffic areas, traffic engineering to stabilize services, and rapid restoration supported by backup power and secondary lines, leading to fewer dropped sessions and faster load times.

The company is also changing how it measures performance, shifting from peak speed tests to outcome-based metrics that reflect actual user experience, including smooth video starts, fast app load times, clear calls, and first-attempt transaction success.

Independent crowdsourced tests show Globe delivers fewer video interruptions, particularly on platforms such as Facebook, compared with competitors. Network availability remains above 99 percent.

Globe’s average mobile download speed reached 34.8 megabytes per second (Mbps), up 8 percent year-on-year, while broadband speeds rose 36 percent to 120.4 Mbps, exceeding the requirements of platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Zoom.

Last year, Globe reported a Net Promoter Score of 49, above the telco industry benchmark of 31.

The GSM Association said only 57 percent of mobile internet users in these markets report having a good online experience, with unstable networks remaining a major barrier, particularly in rural and low-income areas.

The group said digital inclusion depends not just on access, but on whether services work smoothly and consistently.

To recall, no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. admitted in a recent forum that internet connectivity in the provinces remains sluggish and intermittent, even if the country’s telecommunications sector was valued at more than $6 billion last year.