KDDI partners with Globe Telecom to expand mobile and retail services in the Philippines

Japanese telecommunications group KDDI Corporation and Philippine operator Globe Telecom announced a strategic partnership on 23 July 2026. The agreement aims to accelerate growth of Globe’s mobile business and create new digital‑service value by combining KDDI’s expertise in telecom, financial, entertainment and lifestyle services with Globe’s roughly 67 million‑customer base.

The collaboration will begin with a joint validation of recurring‑revenue models and retail‑store concepts in the first half of fiscal 2026, targeting a broader rollout by 2027. Globe’s CEO Carl Cruz said the partnership will help “make mobile services more relevant, retail experiences more seamless, and digital solutions more responsive to the evolving needs of Filipinos.” Both firms will also explore links to Globe’s Intelligent City initiative, seeking to integrate communications with urban‑life services.

The deal coincides with the 70th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines and reflects a wider trend of Japanese telcos expanding beyond connectivity into comprehensive digital ecosystems.