Is 0931 Really Globe or Have We Been Wrong All Along?

You know that moment when a friend asks for your number, and as you rattle it off “0931…” you’re suddenly met with the classic question: “Is that Globe?”

It feels almost nostalgic, doesn’t it? In the Philippines, your mobile prefix isn’t just a few digits; it’s a social shorthand, a way of instantly signaling your digital tribe. But here’s the twist: with everything changing so quickly in the telco world, are we all sure about 0931 anymore? Let’s walk through this together.

A Familiar Story

I remember the first time someone asked me if my 0931 number was Globe. I answered confidently, “Of course! Globe ‘yan.” That’s what everyone knew, after all. For years, these prefixes defined who could text who for free, whose calls would eat up your load, and which data promos you could join. There was even that season when everyone rushed to get free data on Sun Cellular, swapping SIMs like trading cards in a schoolyard.

But then things got interesting.

The World Before Number Portability

It used to be simple. Prefixes were a promise:
0917? Globe.
0920? Smart.
0931? You guessed it, Globe.
You could almost draw a telco map in your mind, connecting people by their numbers, guessing their networks, even their personalities.

And honestly, there was something comforting about that order, like knowing which jeepney to take without asking directions.

Enter Number Portability: A Game Changer

Then came mobile number portability (MNP). Suddenly, the rules we relied on got rewritten. Now, anyone could keep their number, even the prefix while jumping from Globe to Smart, Smart to DITO, or any way they pleased.
0931, once Globe’s digital signature, became a wildcard.

At first, it felt odd, like running into an old friend wearing a completely new outfit. “Wait, you’re on Smart now? But your number starts with 0931!”

That’s when the realization set in: our old way of knowing someone’s network by prefix was a little out of date.

Let’s Appreciate How Far We’ve Come

I actually love how this change quietly made us all a bit more connected. The networks are still in friendly competition, but MNP gives people the freedom to choose without the headache of memorizing a new number or updating all your contacts.

But it did leave us, well, a bit lost at times. The age-old “What network is that?” debate now requires an extra step.

What’s the Real Deal with 0931?

So, let’s answer the big question: is 0931 really Globe?
Historically, yes. According to the official listings before portability, 0931 belonged to Globe [1]. 

But with MNP, it’s possible that a 0931 number could now be on Smart, DITO, or even Sun.

That means your guess is only half as good as before.

So, What Should You Do?

If you need to be sure, especially for those in-network calls or promos, check the network through your telco’s “network checker” or just ask your friend. (A little conversation never hurts, right?)
And let’s appreciate the small miracle here: numbers used to trap us, but now, they set us free.

A Little Gratitude

Honestly, when I think about it, I’m grateful for the old order. It made things easy. But I’m also grateful for the freedom and flexibility we have now.
So next time you see 0931 pop up on your screen, just smile. You’re witnessing a little piece of evolving Filipino tech history.