Globe eyes 700 operational sites in GIDAs before 2025 ends

Telecommunications firm Globe said Monday it is targeting to make 700 operational sites in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) before the year ends.

In a statement, Globe said, at present, 600 operational sites are already live "with a target of 700 by year-end. Industry-wide plans between 2025 and 2028 aim to bring more than 1,000 new towers to these underserved communities."
 
“Every tower we build brings Filipinos closer to opportunity, better education, stronger businesses, and more connected communities,” said Carl Cruz, Globe president and CEO. “Expanding our network is how we ensure the Philippines stays competitive in Asia’s digital future.”

Globe said that as of 2025, the Philippines has under 38,000 cell sites, short of the estimated 50,000 required to serve more than 113 million mobile users. 

It said by comparison, Indonesia operates over 121,000 sites, Vietnam around 90,000, and Myanmar has already surpassed the Philippines in tower density. 

"This gap continues to affect the reach and reliability of mobile and internet services nationwide," it added.

Globe’s mobile network covers 96.13% of the Philippine population, serving more than 106 million people, however, about 4.2 million Filipinos remain outside coverage. 

The company invested ?56.2 billion in 2024, mostly for network upgrades.

In the first quarter of 2025, Globe rolled out 487 new towers, upgraded nearly 4,000 sites with LTE, and activated 235 additional 5G sites. Today, its 5G network supports over 9.5 million devices nationwide.

Globe said challenges remain in building new infrastructure such as lengthy permitting processes, difficulties in site acquisition, and local restrictions continue to slow down expansion.

The telco firm has called for streamlined processes and closer coordination with stakeholders to accelerate network deployment.—AOL, GMA Integrated News