Globe Telecom in the Philippines has expanded its zero-rating access offer and now gives prepaid and postpaid customers free access to WhatsApp.

Free WhatsApp gives customers real-time messaging and voice calling without data charges on any Globe prepaid promo or myLifestyle plan starting on 30 April.

WhatsApp recently introduced a calling feature for Android and iOS smartphones.

Issa Cabreira, Globe’s senior VP for consumer mobile marketing, said with WhatsApp users can enjoy free calls, texts and photo sharing with other WhatsApp users anywhere in the world without worrying about their data charges or the need to look for WiFi spots.

Globe, a pioneer in zero-rating access partnerships with internet players, also offers prepaid and postpaid customers free access to Facebook. It said in March two campaigns offering free Facebook to all mobile customers last year boosted its data users by 110 per cent.

The country’s second largest mobile operator with a 39 per cent market share said data revenues increased 23 per cent to PHP14.3 billion ($32 million) last year, while data traffic grew 270 per cent from the previous year because of a surge in mobile browsing activity and higher smartphone adoption.