Philippines is Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing smartphone market in Q1

Jun 23, 2016Updated May 28, 20251 min read

IDC reported that the country saw a 20 per cent year-on-year increase, or 3.5 million smartphones shipped to retail stores in 2016.

Indonesia’s growth was only 3 per cent during the quarter, while Malaysia was down 20 per cent, Thailand flat, Singapore down 13 per cent, and Myanmar down 1 per cent.

Dominguez attributes the Philippines’ growth to “stronger support from telco operators” in the form of higher subsidies.

“For instance, MyPhone’s partnership with Smart Communications paved the way for an affordable (US$19) prepaid smartphone kit that comes with mobile data allocation. Apple’s shipments also grew partly due to lower cash-out requirement and more attractive data and app bundles for iPhones offered by telcos,” IDC market analyst Jerome Dominguez said in an interview with Tech In Asia

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Mei Ling Tan

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Mei Ling Tan is the Editor of Retail News Asia, where she leads the editorial team in delivering in-depth coverage of Asia’s dynamic retail landscape. With over a decade of experience in business journalism, Mei Ling is known for her sharp analysis, deep industry insights, and commitment to uncovering the stories behind Asia’s most innovative retail brands. Before joining Retail News Asia, Mei Ling held senior reporting roles at regional business publications, covering everything from consumer trends to digital transformation in retail. A graduate of the National University of Singapore with a degree in Communications and New Media, she combines journalistic integrity with a strong understanding of evolving market forces. Outside the newsroom, Mei Ling is a frequent speaker at industry panels and a mentor for young journalists.

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