Filipino operator Globe Telecom, which is controlled by Ayala Corporation and Singtel Communications, has reported record turnover, EBITA and net income for the year ending 31 December 2015, with consolidated service revenues up 15% year-on-year to PHP113.7 billion (USD2.38 billion). Fourth-quarter sales peaked at a record high of PHP30.3 billion, up 3% quarter-on-quarter, driven by strong subscriber growth – in particular in data-based services across all areas of the business – and the consolidation of Bayan Telecommunications’ (Bayan’s) performance in H2. Even stripping out the contribution from its Bayan unit, Globe said consolidated service revenue climbed 12% y-o-y to PHP110.8 billion, with mobile revenues up 9% on an annualised basis to PHP85.1 billion.
Globe closed out 31 December 2015 with a total of 52.9 million mobile users, up 20% from 44 million at end-2014, fuelled by ‘record-level gross acquisitions’ and lower churn rates for both pre-paid and post-paid users. Mobile data service revenues surged 55% in 2015 to PHP22.1 billion, while the broadband business, which now includes Bayan, also sustained its growth momentum, increasing both in revenues and subscriber base by 38% and 55%, respectively. Further, Globe’s fixed line data business improved 40% y-o-y to PHP7.7 billion in 2015 from PHP5.5 billion posted in FY2014. The operator intends to invest USD750 million in its networks and services in 2016, with a key focus on accelerating its fixed broadband and 4G LTE rollouts. To date, the company has deployed 28,336 base stations, with over 18,300 of these 4G-enabled.