Globe Telecom Inc. is set to discard its old 3G infrastructure completely and will now be increasing its fourth-generation (4G) long-term evolution (LTE) frequencies in the Visayas and Mindanao region particularly in the cities of Bacolod, Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, as well as the provinces of Davao and Cagayan de Oro. The upgrade aims to prepare these areas for Globe’s 5G LTE expansion soon.
4G-LTE technology will enable better quality of calls, SMS and data services for customers who are also encouraged to upgrade their handsets to 4G-LTE to experience the improvements.
Since its 5G rollout in February 2020, Globe has already been delivering 5G LTE technology to 199 cities and towns in Metro Manila, Rizal, Quezon, Albay, Oriental Mindoro, Bataan, Leyte, Agusan del Sur and Pampanga. Upgrades are also underway in Laguna and Batangas (provinces south of Metro Manila). The 3 central business districts in Metro Manila – Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, Ortigas Center in Pasig City and Makati – are reportedly nearing 100% 5G coverage.
Globe has also been aggressively adding new cell sites or towers and is allocating PHP 70 billion (USD 1.455 billion) in capital expenditure in 2021, higher than last year’s PHP 50 billion (USD 1.039 billion). It targets to build at least 2,000 new cell sites and increase fiber rollouts, as part of the national government’s directive to improve internet connection in the country and ultimately expand telecommunication coverage to underserved areas. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has been actively monitoring the country’s major telecommunication players, with regard to each company’s expansion and improvement plans, including building up of its own towers.
The DICT has also been implementing digitalization initiatives. It reportedly built 4,305 Wi-Fi live sites in 2020, which is 500% greater than its previous average of 800 sites per year from 2016 to 2019. The establishment of live sites is a key component of its flagship Free Wi-Fi for All Program (FW4A).
(Sources: Philippine Information Agency; Inquirer)
