PLDT says mobile subscriber base settled at 63.03M in 2016

PLDT Inc. subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. closed 2016 with a mobile subscriber base of 63.03 million, reflecting an apparent albeit marginal lead over rival Globe Telecom Inc.'s 62.8 million

In a briefing in Makati City on Tuesday, PLDT Chief Revenue Officer Eric R. Alberto said the company's subscriber base registered at 63.03 million in 2016.

"63.03 million ... That's our official number," Alberto said.

While this is down from 64.9 million in 2015, this is still higher than what rival Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. reported earlier this year – 62.8 million subscribers.

The latest data from PLDT reveals that Globe is now in close competition with Smart, an official of the rival telco told GMA News Online on Wednesday.

“In terms of subscriber base, Globe reported 63 million total wireless which makes us parity with competition," Yolanda C. Crisanto, senior vice president for Corporate Communications at Globe, said, rounding out the numbers.

"However, to reiterate, we use as a basis revenue market share when we compare ourselves with competition,” Crisanto added, but declined to elaborate on revenue market share. She said such numbers have not been disclosed.

PLDT has been registering declines in subscriber base, which the company hopes address this year.

"The momentum of decline was so strong that it would be difficult to reverse into a profit picture this year," Alberto said.

"At best we should be able to arrest the decline," he added. — VDS, GMA News