This was highlighted by the global telecommunications industry group GSMA, which held its first Digital Nation Summit with event partner Globe Telecom in Manila on Nov. 26.
“Bringing the Digital Nation Summit to Manila is an expression of GSMA’s commitment to investing more in elevating the voice of the Philippines in the global market,” said Julian Gorman, head of GSMA in Asia Pacific.
He noted that the Philippines, home to over 100 million people with high mobile penetration, has historically “not had a loud enough voice on the global stage.”
Digital Nations in Asia Pacific report
While leading in areas like data governance, the nation must accelerate mobile infrastructure expansion and build trust in digital services to unlock its full potential as a digital economy.
By 2030, mobile subscriptions are projected to cover 78 percent of the population, with smartphone adoption reaching 92 percent, driven by affordable devices and improved mobile internet access.
GSMA said more than 51 percent of mobile connections are expected to be over 5G technology by 2030, a huge jump from just three percent of connections in 2023.
Collaboration is key to addressing challenges
“As the Philippines’ digital transformation accelerates, we see the growing importance of collaboration among stakeholders to address emerging challenges, from online risks to borderless threats," Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu said.
Globe has secured a seat on the GSMA board, with Cu set to represent the company starting January next year.
"Globe is one with the industry in finding effective and sustainable solutions that industry players across the world face. This is critical in our mission of uplifting lives through technology, ensuring that no Filipino is left behind in the journey towards a digitally empowered future,” Cu added.
Pivotal moment for the country
“The Philippines stands at a pivotal moment in its digital journey,” said Gorman.
“The significant contributions of the mobile industry to the economy highlight the potential for further growth and innovation,” he added. “Our goal is to support the Philippines in harnessing the power of mobile and digital technologies to achieve inclusive growth and innovation.”
Challenges
The Philippines faces a significant mobile usage gap, with 55 million people—over 45 percent of the population—not using mobile internet. Handset affordability, especially in rural areas, and a lack of digital literacy hinder wider adoption.
Concerns over privacy, scams, and online security further erode digital trust, with 29 percent of surveyed consumers reporting experiences with financial crimes.
Deepfake cases in the Philippines have surged by 4,500 percent, raising serious concerns about digital trust and their implications across various sectors.
Preserving digital trust
Gorman outlined five key measures: creating a policy environment to drive investments, adopting a whole-of-government approach to streamline digital transformation, and ensuring private sector commitment to addressing online risks.
He also stressed the importance of international cooperation to combat cross-border threats and establishing mechanisms to support and reassure victims of online crimes.
