Telco giant Globe Telecom announced its largest network upgrade that would be completed by 2021 and meet consumer demands for faster internet.
Globe, backed by Ayala Corp. and Singapore Telecommunications, said the upgrade also came amid surging data use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In heeding the call of the government, we shall endeavor to provide our customers with improved network performance and quality of service,” Globe CEO Ernest Cu said in a statement.
“We look toward the future where our country would have a strong digital economy backed by resilient and reliable connectivity,” he added.
Globe said the upgrade would focus on the voice and data experience of its customers.
This would also involve the accelerated construction of cell sites to expand capacity and network coverage.
The company cited the national government’s support and the recent signing of the Bayanihan to Recover As One or Bayanihan 2.
“The faster processing and release of various national and LGU (local government unit) permits are crucial to jumpstart the infrastructure builds to improve the country’s overall state of connectivity,” Globe said.
The company also planned to upgrade sites to 4G/LTE, which would allow faster mobile internet. Globe would also ramp up its fiber rollout for fixed-internet services.
For this year alone, Globe is committing to spend P50.3 billion, most of which would be spent on the aforementioned upgrades.
Rival PLDT is also investing heavily to improve network services ahead of the entry of Dito Telecommunity, a telco startup backed by Davao-based businessman Dennis A. Uy and China Telecom.
While it expands 4G coverage, Globe said it would also prepare its network for the eventual transition to 5G. INQ