Closing the digital divide: Why every tower matters for Filipinos

• Photo from Pixabay

By TechWatch PH Staff

The Philippines stands at a crucial moment in its digital journey. Connectivity is no longer a luxury — it is the lifeline of education, commerce, and daily life.

Yet millions of Filipinos remain cut off, exposing the urgency of accelerating infrastructure to match the nation’s growing digital demands.

As of 2025, the country operates fewer than 38,000 cell sites — far short of the 50,000 needed to support more than 113 million mobile users.

By comparison, Indonesia has over 121,000 towers, Vietnam around 90,000, and even Myanmar has already surpassed the Philippines in tower density.

This shortfall means that while city dwellers may enjoy seamless video calls or cashless payments, students in far-flung towns struggle to join online classes, and small entrepreneurs lose opportunities to reach customers.

Globe Telecom has pushed its coverage to 96.13 percent of the population, serving more than 106 million Filipinos. Still, about 4.2 million remain outside the digital map.

For them, a new tower can mean the difference between being cut off from schools, markets, and loved ones — or finally being part of the digital economy.

In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Globe built 487 new towers, upgraded nearly 4,000 sites with LTE, and activated 235 additional 5G sites. Its 5G network now connects more than 9.5 million devices nationwide. Beyond the numbers are the lives changed: families who can now reach relatives abroad, farmers who can check real-time weather reports, and students who can access online libraries.

“Every tower we build brings Filipinos closer to opportunity, better education, stronger businesses, and more connected communities,” said Carl Cruz, Globe President and CEO. “Expanding our network is how we ensure the Philippines stays competitive in Asia’s digital future.”

The challenge is greatest in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs), where building a single tower can connect entire towns for the first time. Globe has already activated 600 operational sites in these areas, with a goal of 700 by the end of the year. Industry-wide, over 1,000 new towers are planned for underserved communities between 2025 and 2028.

For residents of remote islands, a stronger signal means access to online health consultations, digital banking, and government services. It can also mean safety — the ability to call for help in times of disaster.

Despite massive industry investments — Globe spent P56.2 billion in 2024 alone, mostly on network expansion — barriers remain.

Lengthy permitting processes, difficulties in site acquisition, and inconsistent local regulations continue to delay tower construction. These systemic challenges highlight that building infrastructure is not just a corporate effort but a national responsibility requiring government and community cooperation.

The race for connectivity is not about who builds the tallest tower or rolls out the fastest signal — it is about closing the gap between those who are digitally included and those who remain left behind.

Each new tower narrows this divide, bringing the Philippines closer to a future where opportunity, learning, and growth are accessible to all. For millions of Filipinos still waiting for their first reliable signal, every tower built is more than infrastructure — it is a bridge to a better life.