Globe embarks on 'largest network upgrade' to improve internet connectivity

Globe Telecom announced its “largest network upgrade” to date, 10 years after the telco company introduced data with its nationwide network transformation program. The Ayala-led company said that the network upgrades come at the heels of the government’s order to improve internet services in the country amid the pandemic.

In a statement Thursday, Globe said that its three-pronged strategy involves accelerating cell site builds in order to expand coverage and increase capacity for data.

“With the strong support of ARTA and the recently signed Bayanihan to Recover As One or Bayanihan 2, the faster processing and release of various national and LGU permits are crucial to jumpstart the infrastructure builds to improve the country's overall state of connectivity,” it said.

The telco company also plans to upgrade all its sites to have 4G/LTE using many different frequencies, which are vital for both coverage and speeds.

"With 4G everywhere, the whole country will be data-ready and capable to meet the increasing demands of customers for bandwidth and faster speeds,” it said.

Globe said that part of its plan is to "fast track the fiberization of Filipino homes to improve data experience using wireline connectivity."

“As Filipinos spend more time at home because of the lockdowns, Globe hopes to address the growing demand for home broadband with a much larger fiber footprint, using only the most advanced technologies,” Globe said.

The telco giant said that all network upgrades are expected to be completed by 2021.

“Globe is in a much better position now to fulfill the demands of its customers. In heeding the call of the government, we shall endeavor to provide our customers with improved network performance and quality of service,” Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu said. “We look towards the future where our country would have a strong digital economy backed by resilient and reliable connectivity."

For this year, Globe said it committed to spend P50.3 billion in capex, majority of which will be spent on its network upgrade initiatives.

The company previously released a series of network related updates which include building 900 cell sites with five shared independent tower companies, securing 190 permits from 85 local government units, network upgrades in eight key areas of Visayas and Mindanao, as well as putting up 32 new towers in several key barangays in Quezon City.

In addition to that, Globe said that it’s also rolling out fiber lines in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Cebu and Davao del Sur and is proactively migrating customers from copper lines to fiber free of charge. The company said that its fiber roll out during the last eight months already represents a 51.4% increase over full year 2019. 

The telco company said that it's also working on its 5G network amid the massive network upgrade, targeting areas in key locations such as Bonifacio Global City, Makati CBD, Rockwell Center, Ortigas CBD, strategic areas along EDSA and C5, Taguig, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Paranaque, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Valenzuela, and Caloocan.

(Photo by Miguel de Guzman/The Philippine STAR)