July 18, 2024
FiliCom, a leading telecommunications operator in the Philippines, today announced the tremendous success of its rural network expansion project in Northern Luzon, powered by a strategic partnership and a customized handset bundle. The initiative successfully connected over 250,000 new subscribers within the first three months of launch.
The project addressed a significant barrier to entry in the Northern Luzon rural market: the lack of an affordable, user-friendly terminal solution for first-time mobile users. To overcome this, FiliCom partnered with a terminal solution provider to deploy a highly competitive "handset + SIM card" bundle.
The solution involved the delivery of 300,000 units of the basic DSK Basiq feature phone in two phases. This phone was specifically chosen for its superior value proposition for entry-level users:
Best-in-Class Value: An extremely cost-effective device, enabling FiliCom to promote it at a very low price point or on a "zero-dollar" plan, drastically reducing the barrier to entry.
Ease of Use: Designed with large fonts, big buttons, and a simple interface, making it perfectly suited for senior citizens and individuals using a mobile phone for the first time.
Pre-loaded Airtime: Each unit included starter credit and a pre-installed FiliCom SIM, allowing users to experience the network immediately out of the box.
The results exceeded all expectations. The bundled package campaign achieved:
Rapid User Acquisition: Addition of over 250,000 new, active subscribers within a single quarter.
Exceptional Activation Rates: A near 95% activation rate on the pre-loaded SIM cards, indicating immediate and genuine engagement.
Network Viability: The rapid influx of users provided the critical mass needed to justify and accelerate further network infrastructure investment in the region.
Market Leadership: The campaign allowed FiliCom to capture the majority of first-time mobile users in the area, establishing a strong market presence and a foundation for future upselling of services.
