Inflation-hit PH consumers OK with ‘good enough’ mobile services 

Cellular phone users are likely to prioritize having reliable and “good enough” mobile services over subscribing to the best, albeit expensive products at a time when consumer prices are soaring, according to independent analytics company OpenSignal.

OpenSignal, in a study shared on Thursday, said the observed consumer behavior was prompted by rising inflation.

Here in the Philippines, the “popularity of mobile promos validates this view,” Infrawatch PH convener Terry Ridon told the Inquirer in a separate interview.

“In such times, consumers often cut back on luxuries and focus on the essentials,” OpenSignal noted in its study. In the Philippines alone, inflation reached 8 percent in November, higher than the 7.7 percent print in the previous month.

“For mobile, this means some users may focus more on ensuring they have a good enough and consistent experience, rather than caring as much about having the fastest or the very best mobile experience,” OpenSignal pointed out.

Ridon said there was a tradeoff such as limited talk time offered by local telcos but “this is good enough for a vast majority of users.”

In fact, prepaid accounts “approximate the most important services of telcos without lock-in periods and a monthly price commitment,” Ridon added.

In OpenSignal’s study on consistency of regional connectivity, DITO Telecommunity ranked first or tied with another for first place in terms of core consistent quality in 15 out of 17 regions. Core consistent quality refers to passable performance when it comes to standard definition video, voice calls and web browsing.