Smart Telecommunications was the leading mobile network operator in the Philippines, with a median download speed of ***** Mbps between July and December 2024. In comparison, Dito had a median download speed of ***** Mbps. Improved mobile internet connections  The infrastructure for mobile internet in the Philippines saw significant improvement recently, particularly with the rollout of 5G connections. In 2022, the Philippines ranked third globally in the highest number of cities in which 5G is available. While 5G may not be readily available in all areas, Filipino telecommunication companies encouraged customers to switch to 4G LTE SIM cards and upgrade to 4G-capable feature phones for better mobile internet connections. Pre-paid vs. post-paid subscription Due to its convenience and cost, many Filipinos have pre-paid mobile internet connections. Data packages can be as low as 50 Philippine pesos, including two gigabytes of data valid for three days. For unlimited calls and texts for three days and a two-gigabyte data plan, the average price is 75 Philippine pesos.

As of the first and second quarters of 2024, Converge emerged as the fastest internet provider in the Philippines, with a download speed of 603.46 Mbps. Meanwhile, Globe Telecom registered a download speed of 294.25 Mbps. Internet quality in the Philippines The average internet speed in the country has been challenged over the years due to the lack of network infrastructure that could support high internet use due to its growing internet population. In 2020, the Philippines was identified as among the countries with the worst internet quality, right above Sri Lanka. Although connection speeds have seen significant improvements in the past few years, further innovations in this field will greatly contribute to the country's digitalization efforts. The emergence of the 5G network In terms of mobile network connections, the Philippines has slowly adapted to new infrastructures to boost internet speeds. Most telecommunications companies started offering devices capable of the fifth generation of broadband mobile cellular network technology and slowly migrating their subscribers from 2G or 3G connections to 4G and even 5G connections. Although this type of connection is still limited to urban areas, developments in this field look promising for the growing number of internet users in the Philippines.

Smart Telecommunications was the leading mobile network operator in the Philippines, with a median download speed of 37.64 Mbps during the fourth quarter of 2023. In comparison, Dito had a median download speed of 19.74 Mbps.

 Improved mobile internet connections 

The infrastructure for mobile internet in the Philippines saw significant improvement recently, particularly with the rollout of 5G connections. In 2022, the Philippines ranked third globally in the highest number of cities in which 5G is available. While 5G may not be readily available in all areas, Filipino telecommunication companies encouraged customers to switch to 4G LTE SIM cards and upgrade to 4G-capable feature phones for better mobile internet connections.

 Pre-paid vs. post-paid subscription

Due to its convenience and cost, many Filipinos have pre-paid mobile internet connections. Data packages can be as low as 50 Philippine pesos, including two gigabytes of data valid for three days. For unlimited calls and texts for three days and a two-gigabyte data plan, the average price is 75 Philippine pesos.

As of February 2025, China ranked first among the countries with the most internet users worldwide. The world's most populated country had 1.11 billion internet users, more than triple the third-ranked United States, with just around 322 million internet users. Overall, all BRIC markets had over two billion internet users, accounting for four of the ten countries with more than 100 million internet users. Worldwide internet usage As of October 2024, there were more than five billion internet users worldwide. There are, however, stark differences in user distribution according to region. Eastern Asia is home to 1.34 billion internet users, while African and Middle Eastern regions had lower user figures. Moreover, the urban areas showed a higher percentage of internet access than rural areas. Internet use in China China ranks first in the list of countries with the most internet users. Due to its ongoing and fast-paced economic development and a cultural inclination towards technology, more than a billion of the estimated 1.4 billion population in China are online. As of the third quarter of 2023, around 87 percent of Chinese internet users stated using WeChat, the most popular social network in the country. On average, Chinese internet users spent five hours and 33 minutes online daily.

As of March 2025, low-cost mobile phone brands have been outselling giants in the telecommunications industry. In the Philippines, Vivo led the mobile vendor market, accounting for 14 percent of the total mobile market. Oppo held the second-highest market share, followed by Realme. Android was the leading operating system Due to its affordability and functionality, smartphone brands with an Android operating system were deemed more popular than Apple iOS devices. Developed as a Google product, Android phones can link their devices to various features, including cloud storage, video services, and e-mail platforms. To boost unit sales, brands such as Samsung and Realme offer bundling promos with telecommunication companies, which include getting a mobile phone and either a prepaid or a postpaid mobile subscription. Smartphone usage As of the third quarter of 2024, Filipino internet users spent more than five hours on mobile internet on average daily. E-commerce adaptation caused this year’s growth in smartphone usage across the country, with an increasing number of Filipinos using their phones for online shopping and to pay for goods and services through various digital payment apps. The government also promoted the use of digital applications and online banking for cash assistance and salary payouts for its employees.

As of February 2025, in Southeast Asia, Malaysia's the internet adoption was recorded at approximately 97.7 percent. In comparison, Indonesia, the region's most populous country, had an internet adoption rate of about 74.6 percent. Mobile connects Southeast Asians A preference for mobile over other connected devices is widespread and continuously growing among Southeast Asian users. Users in the region typically spend a higher share of internet time using mobile devices compared to computers. This is reflected in the region’s gaming sector, where mobile gaming apps dominate Southeast Asia’s gaming market, making up the largest segment. As smartphone ownership in the region's major markets has already surpassed 90 percent, mobile devices are the most widely accessible way to go online for consumers across the region. Mobile infrastructure varies across the region Malaysia and Singapore boast some of the highest mobile internet penetration rates in the world, attributable to their national mobile internet infrastructures. While Southeast Asia's most populous markets, Indonesia and the Philippines, also have the largest online populations in the region, there is still room for growth due to mobile infrastructures being unable to accommodate the high user demand. However, mobile network infrastructure is developing quickly, as Indonesia's mobile internet penetration surpassed 61 percent in 2024, marking a significant increase from under 32 percent in 2020.

Internet sales have played an increasingly significant role in retailing. In 2024, e-commerce accounted for over ** percent of retail sales worldwide. Forecasts indicate that by 2029, the online segment will make up close to over ** percent of total global retail sales. Retail e-commerce Online shopping has grown steadily in popularity in recent years. In 2024, global e-commerce sales amounted to over ************** U.S. dollars, a figure expected to exceed **** trillion U.S. dollars by 2028. Digital development in Latin America boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, generating unprecedented e-commerce growth in various economies across the region. So much so that Brazil and Argentina appear to lead the world's fastest-growing online retail markets. This trend correlates strongly with the constantly improving online access, especially in "mobile-first" online communities, which have long struggled with traditioe-comernal fixed broadband connections due to financial or infrastructure constraints but enjoy the advantages of cheap mobile broadband connections. M-commerce on the rise The average order value of online shopping via smartphones and tablets still lags traditional e-commerce via desktop computers. However, e-retailers around the world have caught up in mobile e-commerce sales. Online shopping via smartphones is particularly prominent in Asia. By the end of 2021, Malaysia was the top digital market based on the percentage of the population that had purchased something by phone, with nearly ** percent having made a weekly mobile purchase. South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines completed the top of the ranking.