Globe bets on reach over margins

Globe Telecom, Inc. is pushing to expand its reach to underserved and remote areas through a partnership with Starlink, offering the service at rates designed to make it accessible, even though the deal itself is not expected to be profitable.

“Our deep purpose is to make sure that really no one gets left behind,” Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz said during a media briefing on Monday.

“It's a very costly service, but it's something we decided to offer to the Philippines mainly for connectivity in far-flung areas,” he added.

The partnership will provide internet access to communities previously unreachable by terrestrial networks, including mountainous regions and remote islands.

While the commercial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Cruz emphasized that Globe is prioritizing social impact over immediate financial gain.

“Even if it’s Starlink, we want to ensure that even the underserved and the poorest of the poor can afford the service,” Globe chief commercial officer Darius Delgado said. “At the same time, our mainstream pricing remains competitive, with bundled 5G offerings giving consumers more value.”

In January, Globe said it had effectively achieved full mobile coverage nationwide after launching its Direct to Cell satellite service with Starlink.

The service allows standard LTE phones to access data, messaging, calls via apps, and SMS even in areas without a terrestrial signal, reaching the remaining 3 to 4 percent of Filipinos still without mobile coverage.