PLDT Inc. said Nov. 12 that its gross service revenues grew by four percent, or P5.2 billion, to P155 billion, in the first nine months of this year.
Its consolidated service revenues, or net of interconnect costs, meanwhile, grew by two percent, or P2.6 billion, to P144.9 billion in the same period, with data and broadband, which grew by three percent, to P120.4 billion, contributing 83 percent.
“As we seek growth in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, we must take on an insurgent’s attitude to not simply embrace change but lead it,” Manuel Pangilinan, PLDT and Smart chairman and chief executive officer, said in statement as the Group reported on its 9-Month Financial and Operating Results in a hybrid press briefing.
“We must challenge the wisdom that we have acquired over the years, to consistently rise to meet and exceed the constantly growing demands and expectations of our customers, in order to stay on track toward achieving escape velocity,” Pangilinan added.
Consolidated EBITDA, meanwhile, grew year-on-year to P80.7 billion in the first nine months of 2024. Telco Core Income, excluding the impact of asset sales and losses from Maya Innovations Holdings, reached P26.6 billion, or up by two percent (P0.5 billion) from the same period last year.
Reported income was at P28.1 billion in the first nine months of 2024, or up one percent year-on-year, the Group said, adding that its Individual Wireless segment posted revenues of P62.1 billion in the first three quarters this year.
Mobile data revenues, which now account for 89 percent of total Individual Wireless revenues, grew to P55.2 billion from P52.4 billion. Active data users stood at 41.2 million.
As of end September 2024, Smart had registered 60.3 million mobile subscribers.
PLDT and Smart’s network enhancement initiatives boost the PLDT Group’s commitment to support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s digitalization mission, by expanding reliable internet access to Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) across the Philippines, as part of the Private Sector Advisory Council’s Digital Infrastructure sector.
These expansions, which are part of the government’s flagship “Broadband ng Masa” Program, aim to provide residents in GIDAs with access to digital services that are vital for inclusive economic growth.
PLDT and Smart are also collaborating closely with the government in efforts to combat mobile technology-aided crimes. This includes the launch of the public reporting portal ‘Huliscam’, which complements the new and more advanced network firewall that the PLDT Group had recently activated to block malicious messages from passing through its network.
Smart has also strengthened its SIM registration system by introducing enhanced verification tools and advanced technology, including ‘live selfie feature’, liveness checks, and the disabling of stock selfies to combat fraudulent activities.
“Today, telco is not merely a technology, it’s a lifeline. Our customers expect connectivity that is instantaneous, seamless, reliable and extensive, and products and services that work every time and everywhere,” Pangilinan said.
“We must continue to intensify our focus on delivering exceptional customer service, as we strive to transform our networks into platforms for innovation, enabling new industries, new products, new services and new ways of life,” he added. ||
