GSMA Conducts Digital Nation Summit in Manila, Emphasizing the Significant Impact Mobile Technology Can Make in Digitally Advancing the Philippines Economy
The Philippines, being one of the most digitally advanced nations in the Asia Pacific, is poised to reap the economic and societal benefits that mobile technologies offer, as per the research presented today at the GSMA's Digital Nation Summit Manila. However, to fully transition into a comprehensive digital nation, the Philippines must persist in broadening its mobile infrastructure throughout the archipelago and further enhance consumer confidence in digital services.
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| GSMA Conducts Digital Nation Summit in Manila, Emphasizing the Significant Impact of Mobile Technology |
The GSMA's "Digital Nations in Asia Pacific" report underscores how the Philippines ranks sixth among 18 countries in the region and takes the lead in sectors like data governance. The nation is making progress in broadening its digital infrastructure, including the deployment of 5G networks by major operators and the augmentation of satellite networks to enhance internet connectivity and speeds nationwide. This digital metamorphosis is further propelled by the government's initiatives to nurture a startup ecosystem, with innovation and entrepreneurship being primary objectives.
Additional research from the GSMA’s recent “Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2024" report indicates that the count of mobile subscribers in the Philippines is predicted to surge to 78% of the population by 2030 (up from 73% in 2023). Smartphone adoption is expected to increase to 92% of the population by 2030 (up from 86% in 2023), as mobile operators extend the reach of mobile internet services in the Philippines and smart devices become more accessible. Over 51% of mobile connections are projected to be over 5G technology by 2030, a significant leap from just three percent of connections in 2023.
However, the Philippines currently ties for the world’s ninth largest mobile usage gap, with 55 million people, or over 45% of the population, currently not utilizing mobile internet. The affordability of handsets and mobile ownership is a major hurdle, especially for rural areas and vulnerable groups. Other factors include uneven access to digital literacy and education, and limited awareness of the internet’s benefits or the skills to use it. Additionally, increasing worries about privacy, scams, fraud, and online security could undermine digital trust and deter adoption.
To ensure the nation continues to profit from the economic and societal transformations digital metamorphosis can bring about, all sectors of the government, mobile, and technology industries must collaborate to protect digital trust. Research by the GSMA reveals that 29% of consumers surveyed in the Philippines have fallen victim to financial crime, such as identity theft and security breaches. Similarly, the Digital Nations report emphasizes how the Philippines experienced the highest surge in deepfake cases (4,500%). Deepfakes involve the use of hyper-realistic fake videos, images, and audio to deceive viewers and have the potential to deteriorate trust in digital content. This has serious implications for sectors, including the media, the arts, academia, security, and justice.
During the Digital Nation Summit Manila, Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific at the GSMA, stated that the government, industry players, and other stakeholders must concentrate on five critical measures to safeguard digital trust. These include:
- a policy environment to drive investments
- a whole-of-government approach to streamline digital transformation efforts
- a private sector commitment to tackling online risks
- international cooperation to tackle cross-border threats and
- the development of a response mechanism to reassure and support victims of online
To assist the acceleration of the nation’s progress towards becoming a digital nation, the GSMA is conducting the Digital Nation Summit Manila 2024 this week. This one-day event will assemble government officials, industry leaders, and technology experts to discuss strategies for fostering collaboration and driving the country's digital transition. The summit will coincide with Fintech Week in the Philippines, with the GSMA also hosting its own APAC Fintech Forum. This event will focus on the role of financial technology in promoting inclusive digital growth and innovation within the country.
“Standing at a crucial juncture in its digital journey, the Philippines is poised for significant growth and innovation, thanks to the substantial contributions of the mobile industry to the economy," said Julian Gorman, Head of APAC at GSMA. "Our objective is to aid the Philippines in leveraging the power of mobile and digital technologies to achieve inclusive growth and innovation. The Digital Nation Summit and APAC Fintech Forum aim to foster collaboration and drive actionable strategies that will solidify the Philippines' position as a premier digital nation in the region."
During the Digital Nation Summit, leaders from the Philippines’ Department of Information and Communications Technology, Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, Meta, the Asian Development Bank, and RCBC will discuss how leveraging technology and forming partnerships is essential to protect consumers and maintain trust in digital platforms.
One focal point during the summit will be the need for cross-industry collaboration to enhance online security and safeguard digital trust. One such collaboration is the GSMA Open Gateway initiative, which taps into the power of global mobile networks by providing access to network capabilities through common application programming interfaces (APIs). Globe Telecom and Smart Communications are backing the initiative in the Philippines, collaborating with financial institutions and online retailers to help reduce the incidence of illegal account takeovers and unauthorized transactions resulting from phishing and malware app scams.
