A new report showed that most mobile phone users in the Philippines are not ready for the upcoming shutdown of 3G networks.
The government has set a deadline at the end of 2026 for telcos to turn off 3G, but many people still use old phones that cannot connect to newer networks.
The data comes from Ookla, a company that studies internet and mobile performance. According to their findings, only about 3 out of 10 Filipinos currently use a technology called VoLTE, which stands for voice over LTE. This is the system that replaces 3G for making calls. The rest, nearly 70% of users, have not yet made the switch.
Among the country’s three major telecom providers, the smallest one, DITO, is doing the best. Close to 42% of its customers are on VoLTE. Experts say this is because DITO built a brand new 5G network from the start when it entered the market.
The two bigger companies, Smart and Globe, are far behind. Smart has a VoLTE rate of just under 32%, while Globe is at the bottom with a little over 27%. Both telcos have many customers who still use older devices, and that makes the upgrade process very slow.
Ookla also pointed out that telcos cannot force people to buy new phones. Many Filipinos simply cannot afford to upgrade their devices. The company said that government help will be needed to close the gap before the 2026 deadline.
Compared to other countries in Southeast Asia, the Philippines is moving very slowly. In Malaysia, over 96% of users are already on VoLTE. Singapore is close behind at nearly 95%, and Thailand is at 65%. Meanwhile, the global average is around 58%.
The good news is that things should get better over time. Industry estimates show that VoLTE use in the Philippines could climb to 43% this year, 54% in 2027, and 62% by 2028.