By Ashley Erika O. Jose, Reporter
THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) expects capital spending by major Philippine telecommunications companies (telcos) to reach as much as $2.45 billion, or about P152.88 billion, this year.
In a statement on Tuesday, the DICT said 2026 capital expenditures by PLDT Inc., Globe Telecom, Inc., and Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. already total about $2.21 billion.
The agency said total industry spending could reach about $2.4 billion to $2.45 billion once expected investments by DITO Telecommunity Corp. are included.
“Crossing the $2-billion mark sends a clear message: the telecommunications industry believes in the Philippines. These investments will translate into more infrastructure, better connectivity, new jobs, and greater opportunities for Filipinos as we continue building a digital-first economy,” Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda said.
The DICT said the investment figures were based on company disclosures and earnings briefings as of August.
PLDT has guided for about P55 billion in capital expenditures this year, while Globe expects spending below P59.4 billion, the agency said.
Converge ICT has projected capital spending of about P17 billion to P20 billion, while DITO’s expected investments are below its 2025 spending level of P15 billion to P18 billion, according to the DICT.
The agency said continued investment by telecommunications companies is important as the country expands digital infrastructure and prepares for growing demand from artificial intelligence (AI), cloud services, data centers, e-commerce, digital government, education, and healthcare.
The DICT also linked the investment outlook to the implementation of the Konektadong Pinoy Act and the expansion of the National Fiber Backbone project.
“This is a strong indication that the industry continues to have confidence in the Philippines and recognizes the importance of building a stronger digital economy. We also commend DICT for creating an environment that encourages continued investment in connectivity and digital infrastructure,” Ronald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, said in a Viber message to BusinessWorld on Tuesday.
Mr. Gustilo said the investments should translate into faster and more reliable connectivity, broader coverage, and stronger network resilience, particularly in underserved areas.
“The DICT itself recognizes, our telecommunications infrastructure must be capable of supporting the next wave of growth in AI, cloud computing, and data centers,” he said.
The DICT said the investment outlook also comes as the government expects new telecommunications players to enter the Philippine market.
Earlier this year, the agency said at least two US-based satellite providers and one Japanese telecommunications company were expected to enter the country.
“With new players expected to enter the market, we hope competition will push the industry to invest even more aggressively. The $2.4 billion is encouraging, but the Philippines needs sustained investment at this scale and beyond if we want to become a serious digital infrastructure hub in ASEAN,” Mr. Gustilo said.
The entry of more foreign telecommunications providers follows the enactment of the Konektadong Pinoy Act, which removed the congressional franchise requirement for qualified data transmission industry players.
The law, which lapsed into law in August last year, is intended to streamline permitting and licensing procedures and promote infrastructure sharing to improve connectivity and competition.
“The ultimate measure of success is not how much companies announce they will spend, but how much better Filipinos’ connectivity becomes and whether these investments help bring high-value digital industries and jobs into the country,” Mr. Gustilo said.
The country’s major telecommunications companies, including Globe, PLDT, and Converge, have also proposed a $500-million nationwide undersea fiber-optic network to expand connectivity across the Philippines.
The proposal involves laying undersea fiber-optic cables from Batanes to Palawan, with links extending to the Visayas and Mindanao. The DICT said the proposed network would complement the government’s National Fiber Backbone project.
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