Globe urges industry leaders to co-create PH’s digital backbone

Telecommunications company Globe has called on industry leaders to co-create the country's digital backbone and push for shared infrastructure.

“Our role has expanded. We’re no longer just connecting endpoints anymore. We’re enabling ecosystems from subsea to cloud, from enterprise to end user. And that means building infrastructure that’s flexible and future-ready,” Globe Business’ Wholesale Division Vice President Cocoy Claravall said during the 2025 Globe Business G Summit.

During the breakout session, “Unlocking Powerful Connections to Fuel the Future of Philippine Infrastructure,” industry leaders were convened to challenge the status quo and co-envision a country where fiber grids, data centers, and cable systems no longer compete for territory.

From new Festoon loops in Luzon to expanded subsea capacity via the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) and Asia Link Cable, Globe presented a roadmap that places reach and transparency at the core. 

Claravall said central to the strategy is the Managed Optical Fiber Network (MOFN), a model that allows hyperscalers and carriers to tailor their connections without losing the benefits of a managed service. 

ProAssure, a proactive platform designed to preempt issues before they affect customers, was also discussed as part of this shift toward more intelligent and accountable infrastructure.

Kian Soon Wong, Ciena’s Head of Sales Engineering in ASEAN, brought a technical lens to the discussion, demonstrating how MOFN and Managed Spectrum enable customers to move beyond fixed contracts and build networks to scale as needed around real needs.

The model empowers clients to choose their own equipment, monitor network health in real time, and scale on demand, all while the operator handles the heavy lifting of deployment and maintenance.

“MOFN is about balance. It gives customers control without the operational burden, and gives operators like Globe a way to deliver more agile services. It’s a collaboration model—not just a tech solution,” Wong said.

From the data center side, STT GDC Philippines CEO Carlo Malana spoke of how the country is gaining traction as a hyperscale destination. He pointed to STT GDC’s Cavite and Fairview campuses as proof points for hyperscalers looking to deploy AI and cloud workloads in-country.

“The runway is long and the momentum is building. Philippine infrastructure is no longer aspirational, it’s operational. The question now is how we scale that responsibly and fast enough to meet demand,” Malana said.

For Globe, the role of a telco is no longer just to connect, it’s to co-create. KD Dizon, Head of Globe Business, emphasized that this is not just a commercial opportunity but a national one.

“Infrastructure is more than physical assets, it’s about trust, alignment, and the will to build beyond our individual interests,” Dizon said. “If we want real digital progress in the Philippines, we need to co-create the grid that will carry it.” —AOL, GMA Integrated News