Globe expects rebound in subscriber base in second quarter

CEBU, Philippines – With the introduction of attractive and affordable packages, Globe Telecom expects its subscriber base to rebound in the second quarter this year.

"Our new, customizable postpaid plans and all-you-can offers are designed to empower subscribers to tailor-fit their plans based on phone usage and lifestyle preferences. These offers have shown promise in stimulating usage where multi-SIMs are common, and in strengthening brand loyalty," said Ernest Cu, President and chief executive officer (CEO) of Globe Telecom.

"Globe has successfully introduced game-changing offers that entice the prepaid market to take a second look at postpaid services today," Cu added.

As of end-June 2010, the company's subscriber base reached 24.62-Million, up three percent from the previous quarter's 23.89-Million subscribers, on the back of 732,000 net additions in the second quarter of the year.

As early as last year, Globe deliberately churned out marginal subscribers and focused acquisition efforts to high-value subscribers.

The postpaid segment, comprising about four percent of Globe's total subscriber base, capped the first half of the year with 909,466 subscribers, up 3.29 percent from the previous quarter, and eight percent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, the prepaid segment closed the first half with 23.71-Million subscribers. TM (TouchMobile) led the increase in this segment, with 10.55-Million subscribers, up 5.82 percent quarter-on-quarter and two percent year-on-year.

The company attributed the strong performance of its postpaid segment to the launch of "My Super Plan," an array of all-you-can postpaid services launched last March, and "My Fully Loaded Plan," first-in-the-market customizable plan that gives subscribers additional perks on top of an all-consumable monthly charge, launched last June. As an innovation leader in the country, Globe brings breakthrough offers that focus on the particular needs and demands of customers.

"My Super Plan" is a first-in-the-market customizable plan that allows subscribers to create their own personal postpaid plan. From the Globe all-you-can buffet of services (call, text, and web browsing), subscribers can choose and mix the unlimited services they want for the month.

They also have the option of changing their plans every month. The "all you can" services include My Super TXT, the most affordable text-all-you-can plan for just P349 a month; My DUO which allows unlimited calls to landlines for only P450 a month; and My Super DUO which allows unlimited calls to landlines and other Globe, Tattoo, and TM numbers for only P599 a month. Subscribers can also choose My Super UNLi which enables customers to make on-net calls and text as much as needed for just P599 a month, and My Super SURF which supports all-you-can mobile chatting, surfing, downloading, and emailing for a monthly fee of P1,200.

With My Fully Loaded Plan, subscribers can choose their consumable plan for as low as P299, up to P499, P999, P1,799, P2,499 and P3,799, which they can spend as they choose on calling, texting or mobile browsing.

On top of their plan, subscribers also get to pick the freebies they want to load into their chosen plan like free calls and texts to Globe and TM subscribers or to other networks, free international call and texts to 10 destinations, free mobile surfing, free unlimited surfing, and free unlimited calls and texts to one Globe or TM mobile.

Cu stated that the company's acquisition strategy has yielded some gains, "We have increased our number of activations and mobile usage is higher this quarter. We are also recalibrated our device roll-out to respond to the changing habits and usage of mobile phone users." (THE FREEMAN)