GCash Adds 365-Day PLDT Fiber Prepaid Reloads to GLoad

Q: Will this deal's 'exclusive rewards' offer real savings or just strengthen the market dominance of two industry giants?

The rewards are likely to deliver some real savings for users, but they also clearly deepen the reach of two already powerful players: GCash in digital payments and PLDT in broadband. For consumers, the value is practical. PLDT Home Fiber Prepaid already appeals to budget-conscious households because it avoids lock-in contracts, credit checks and fixed monthly bills. Users can load for as little as a day or as long as a year, which helps match spending to actual need. Longer-validity prepaid packages typically lower the effective daily cost, and app-based top-ups reduce the friction of paying through stores or agents. If GCash adds discounts, cashback or promo bundles on top of that, the savings are real, even if modest. But the commercial upside for the companies is just as important. GCash, with nearly 90 million accounts, keeps users inside its app for another essential service, strengthening its “super app” model. PLDT, which holds about 42% of the fixed broadband market, gains easier access to reloads and potentially better customer retention. In a fiber market increasingly shaped by prepaid offers, that convenience can reinforce scale advantages that smaller rivals may struggle to match. So this is not an either-or story. The deal can save users money and time, especially those who need flexible internet spending. At the same time, it strengthens the market position of dominant incumbents by tying connectivity and payments more tightly into their existing ecosystems.

3 articles · Updated · Daily Tribune (Philippines) · Jun 26

GCash has expanded GLoad to let users reload PLDT Home Fiber Prepaid directly in the app, extending the service from mobile top-ups to home internet.
Plans now range from 1 day to 365 days, with GCash pairing the reloads with exclusive rewards, discounts and promotional offers.
GCash said the addition is meant to strengthen its digital-services ecosystem and make home connectivity easier to manage in one app for Filipino households.
PLDT Home said the tie-up is aimed at making fiber service more flexible and accessible as more families rely on digital connectivity for daily life.