DITO Telecommunity is optimistic about maintaining the growth of its broadband business, which could further support its investments in 5G technology. During a media briefing, DITO’s President and CEO, Ernesto (Eric) Alberto, expressed confidence in their fixed wireless access (FWA) service.
“Today, we have a capacity of about 3.6 million FWA subscribers, and we’re barely scratching the surface with 250,000. So [there’s] a lot of room,” he stated in Taguig City.
The company aims to increase its FWA subscriber base to between 1.5 million and 2 million by 2026. “We’re seeing that the market, particularly after the pandemic, has become social media active. They’re now purchasing online, and we’re seeing that [this] traction, plus the reception for our services, is now moving faster in conversion. So, we can be a little bit more ambitious,” Alberto added.
On average, DITO is adding 1,200 new users each day. To maintain this momentum, Alberto mentioned that the company plans to reinvest the revenue generated from its FWA service into expanding its 5G network. He also highlighted that DITO’s FWA technology represents the “next frontier” for the country, especially as wired connectivity faces challenges like fiber line cuts.
“Wireless broadband eliminates the need for expensive and time-consuming installations and repairs, allowing us to reach areas that fiber cannot serve,” he explained.
Adel Tamano, DITO’s Chief Revenue Officer, supported this view, noting that only 8 to 9 million households currently have broadband access, and the quality of service (QoS) is often “highly inconsistent.”
He mentioned that about 50% of DITO’s subscribers are receiving 5G-ready connectivity. As a competitor to the telecom duopoly of Globe Telecom and PLDT, DITO began operations in March 2021 and now has over 13 million mobile subscribers. The company aims to achieve profitability by 2028.
