Globe surpasses cell sites build, upgrade targets as of September

Ayala-led telecommunications giant Globe Telecom Inc. said Wednesday it has exceeded its targets of expanding further its network capability and capacity.

In a statement, Globe said that as of September, it has exceeded its performance of cell site upgrades by 26.4% year-on-year, upgrading 7,780 towers.

The cell sites are now 4G or LTE ready to give customers faster connectivity and better mobile experience, the telco said.

Globe said it has also installed at least 593 new cellular towers since January, which is more than what it has built for the same period in 2019. 

In terms of bringing connectivity to challenged areas, Globe has installed more cell sites in parts of Davao Oriental, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, South Cotabato, Maguindanao, Davao Oriental, Isabela. Ilocos Sur, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Southern Leyte, Capiz, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Metro Manila, and Rizal with no or weak signal. 

“This effectively expands the coverage of Globe to more locations nationwide,” it said.

Overall, the telco was able to pick up the pace of the builds much faster than 2019 despite the pandemic.

“We are committed to fulfilling our network upgrades and expansion program to improve the connectivity in the country and bring better data experience to our customers. We have regarded the various community lockdowns, not as concerns but challenges to deliver more and make the best of the opportunities given to us,”  Joel Agustin, Globe senior vice president for Program Delivery, Network Technical Group, said.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier emphasized the need for telcos to build more cell site towers as the country and the world have gone digital, as well as with schools holding online classes.

Globe attributed the increase in tower builds and upgrades to the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 01 s. 2020 signed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Anti-Red Tape Authority, and other government agencies.

The company also cited the passage of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 as other reasons for the fast-tracking of its network build-up effort.

Globe said most of the sites completed are in Rizal and Quezon City, while the majority of network upgrades were done in Bulacan and Cavite.

Current site installations and site upgrades are also ongoing in other parts of the country, including in areas where the company is targeting to increase its presence.

By prioritizing its network upgrades and expansion, Globe has laid out a three-pronged  strategy that includes aggressive cell site builds, upgrading all its sites to have 4G/LTE using many different frequencies; and fast-tracking the fiberization of Filipino homes nationwide.

In his latest State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July, President Rodrigo Duterte had called on public services providers, particularly telecommunications companies Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc., to improve their services before the end of the year or else have their properties expropriated. -MDM, GMA News