Our Top 5 Tech Predictions for 2016

Last year has been a roller-coaster in the tech industry and there were a lot of big stories, innovations and surprises. We think 2016 will be an equally exciting year as well. Here are our top 5 predictions for 2016.

Netflix comes to the Philippines. We’re almost 99% sure that Netflix will be launched in the Philippines this 2016. They will be partnering with a global TV brand and perhaps one other telco. It will be priced between Php799USD 14INR 1,154EUR 13CNY 99 and Php999USD 17INR 1,443EUR 16CNY 124. Announcement could be as early as February 2016.

Telstra backs out of the Philippines. Much have been said about Telstra entering the Philippines but talks with San Miguel might not fall through and San Miguel to just go at it on its own under the name BellTel. That doesn’t mean Telstra is completely out of the picture. They could still partner with San Miguel at a later time, perhaps past 2017.

Unlimited Mobile Internet returns, at a premium price. The year 2015 has been the year where we all saw unlimited mobile internet being wiped out of subscription plans. Globe was the first one to implement it and Smart followed suit after seeing the scheme was working (better ARPU and net income results). So subscribers are already used to the limits (1.5GB to 15GB per month). In 2016, we might see unlimited mobile internet make a comeback. Of course, it will be an upsell of the current volume plans and could go as high as Php2,000USD 34INR 2,889EUR 32CNY 248 to Php2,500USD 43INR 3,612EUR 41CNY 310 per month on top of your plan. This will be mostly targeted to very heavy nomadic users that rely on mobile internet as a primary connection.

The $10PHP 587INR 847EUR 10CNY 73 Android Smartphone. A a sub Php500USD 9INR 722EUR 8CNY 62 smartphone running Android is not far-fetched in 2016. It could be very basic, even running an older version like Jellybean but it will be much better than the regular feature phones that are still selling quite well. We’ve already seen smartphone Php1,000USD 17INR 1,445EUR 16CNY 124 last month so a Php500USD 9INR 722EUR 8CNY 62 Android handset is doable in the next 12 months.

Broadband Internet hits Php500USD 9INR 722EUR 8CNY 62 a month. Believe it or not prepaid dial-up internet is still popular these days. Users are mostly casual internet users that are frequently out for work and get access from the office. Their only use for prepaid dial-up internet is casual checking of email and with a budget of Php150USD 3INR 217EUR 2CNY 19 to Php300USD 5INR 433EUR 5CNY 37 a month. A Php500USD 9INR 722EUR 8CNY 62 a month broadband internet (DSL or cable) will further take up the thinning dial-up market.