Globe Telecom announced that it is investing close to $500 million over a five-year period beginning 2016 to expand its corporate data network to meet the bandwidth requirements of corporate and enterprise clients.
According to Rizza Maniego-Eala, Globe Telecom’s acting chief finance officer, the corporate data expansion is intended to support the growth of the company’s business clients, capitalizing on the changing business landscape with the use of digital technologies. The company believes that the expansion of its corporate data network can address client needs for additional bandwidth as they embrace new network technologies such as Software Defined Network/ Network Function Virtualization, Cloud and Big Data, among others. This initiative supports the ICT requirements of finance, services, retail, IT-BPO and manufacturing enterprises as they expand their operations to Visayas, Calabarzon and Davao.
“A growing number of enterprises today use software applications delivered via cloud which require significant bandwidth. Deploying fiber in key areas will enhance productivity, efficiency and competitiveness of businesses that will sustain the growth momentum of the Philippine economy,” said Maniego-Eala.
The infrastructure build for enterprises runs parallel with the company’s initiative of creating an internet superhighway by deploying fiber in 20,000 barangays all over the country by 2020 to provide internet access to around two million homes nationwide. The infrastructure build also involves a capacity expansion program for both mobile and wireline using the different technologies that include 3G, LTE and Wi-Fi.
While technology has grown, Globe Telecom admitted that there remains a need to invest in wired broadband, particularly since less than 10% of Filipinos have wired broadband connectivity.
“With the deployment of fiber broadband technology, the infrastructure for data connectivity of enterprises allows for fast, critical connections involving huge amounts of data at all times. We’re hoping that with the twin projects for enterprises and individual customers, they will have access to a more reliable and resilient network that addresses their need for ultra-fast data connectivity,” Maniego-Eala ended.
