With online scams on the rise, Globe Telecom is stepping up efforts to strengthen “digital trust,” warning that increasing fraud could erode confidence in the country’s growing digital economy.
The Ayala-led telco said suspected fraud incidents in the Philippines have reached 13 percent, more than double the global average of five percent. It added that about one in three users, or 34 percent, have encountered scams.
Globe said the surge in digital threats comes as the local digital economy continues to expand, with projections reaching $36 billion. Globally, scam-related losses have climbed to an estimated $1 trillion, underscoring the need for stronger safeguards across digital platforms.
Speaking at the Digital Nations Summit in Tokyo, Globe president and CEO Carl Cruz said trust is essential to sustaining digital growth.
“If users feel unsafe, they disengage,” he said, stressing the need to embed security, privacy, and accountability into networks from the outset.
To address these risks, Globe said it has intensified its safeguards, blocking nearly 1 billion spam and scam messages and shutting down over 17,000 malicious domains in 2025. It has also rolled out awareness programs reaching close to 17,000 users to promote safer online behavior.
Beyond cybersecurity, Globe emphasized the need for reliable connectivity as the industry moves toward 6G. Cruz said that while next-generation technologies promise faster speeds and advanced capabilities, users ultimately value stable and consistent connections.
This is especially important in the Philippines, where geography and natural disasters continue to challenge infrastructure. Globe is advocating for hybrid connectivity solutions that combine traditional networks with satellite technology to ensure service across the country’s more than 7,000 islands.
“Resilience is now a basic expectation,” Cruz said, adding that dependable connections matter more to consumers than speed alone.
As discussions on 6G advance, Globe is pushing for early collaboration across the Asia-Pacific region, emphasizing practical applications and sustainable investments over purely technological ambition.