A nationwide shift away from 3G is set to test the country’s mobile operators, with the bulk of Filipino phone users still tied to devices incapable of connecting to newer networks. Roughly 69 percent of subscribers have not yet moved to voice over LTE (VoLTE), leaving carriers a wide gap to close before older networks go dark.
The figures come from network analytics firm Ookla, which pegged Philippine VoLTE penetration at 30.9 percent in 2025—among the lowest rates recorded anywhere. The shortfall matters because the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has directed carriers to switch off 3G service by the close of 2026, making VoLTE the standard for voice calls once that legacy technology is retired.
Performance varies sharply between operators. Dito Telecommunity Corp., the newest entrant, led the field at 41.9 percent, an edge Ookla linked to the regulatory condition that it build a standalone 5G network as a precondition for operating. Smart Communications Inc. registered 31.7 percent, while Globe Telecom Inc. sat at the bottom with 27.4 percent.
Ookla pointed to the burden of legacy infrastructure as a drag on the two larger players. “In contrast, Smart and Globe manage massive subscriber bases that still include users with older devices,” the firm noted. It cautioned that clearing the remaining 3G handsets before the deadline hinges on factors beyond the carriers’ control, since affordability shapes whether consumers can upgrade and operators cannot force that decision on their own.
Regional comparisons underscore how far behind the country sits. Malaysia posted a 96.1 percent VoLTE rate, Singapore 94.9 percent, and Thailand 65.2 percent, while the global average stood at 57.7 percent. Part of the lag traces to timing: Smart began its national VoLTE rollout only in 2020, with Globe following in 2021.
Projections drawn from GSMA Intelligence suggest gradual improvement, with VoLTE connections expected to reach 43.2 percent this year, 53.7 percent in 2027, and 61.6 percent in 2028. Ookla gathered its assessment in February, running tests with a current Samsung handset over a 1,200-kilometer stretch of Metro Manila.
