Globe continues to accelerate its expansion and modernization targets for the remainder of 2020.
For October, the company completed the construction of at least 107 new cell towers in addition to the 593 cell sites it has built for the first nine months of the year. Despite existing quarantine protocols, travel restrictions and physical distancing, Globe’s current builds remain ahead of schedule and steadily increasing compared to last year.
There are 39 new installations underway in Metro Manila, 19 in Cebu and at least one cell site in Rizal, Aklan, Bohol, Leyte, Bukidnon, Davao Del Sur, Davao Oriental, Maguindanao, Misamis Oriental, Bulacan, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Albay, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Camarines Sur and Palawan.
Globe has likewise increased its build rate for fiber to the homes (FTTH) from its average monthly pace in 2019 to at least 233% in the last three months. These improvement initiatives on wireless services last month include putting up broadband lines, more than half were FTTH, in various areas of Metro Manila such as Manila, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Malabon, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Makati, Quezon City, Marikina, Las Pinas, Paranaque, Taguig, San Juan, Pasay, Navotas, Pateros, and Muntinlupa; and in Bataan Bulacan, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales. La Union, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Sorsogon, and Albay in Luzon.
In the Visayas, fiber installations were made in Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Iloilo. For Mindanao, fiber lines were also set up in Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Agusan Del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Davao Del Norte, Bukidnon, Compostela Valley, Zamboanga Del Sur, and Davao Oriental.
As of October, Globe rolled out 70.98% broadband lines more compared to the same period last year. The company’s FTTH builds likewise grew by 318% this year compared to 2019.
“Fiberization is our way to complement and connect more Filipino homes where our cell towers can’t be installed yet due to various reasons. By laying out more fiber to homes especially in highly-urbanized areas and densely populated parts of the country, we are improving not only our network infrastructure but our capacity as well. In places we can’t immediately install our cell towers, our fiber lines will keep our customers connected, updated, and better served,” said Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Program Delivery, Network Technical Group.
Fiber optic lines are less prone to glitches compared to the old and traditional copper lines. They can withstand the impact of harsh weather and take minimal space. Moreover, fiber optic lines are considered “future proof” which means it is flexible enough to be upgraded for better services in the future.
Globe is eyeing to build at least 600 more cell towers, some of which are already in varying degrees of construction, and complete more than 10,017 site upgrades by year-end.
Globe has laid out a 3-pronged strategy for its network upgrades and expansion, which includes aggressive cell site builds; upgrading its cell sites to 4G/LTE using many different frequencies; and fast-tracking the fiberization of Filipino homes nationwide.
Globe supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically UNSDG No. 9 which emphasizes the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. Globe is committed to upholding the 10 United Nations Global Compact principles and 10 UN SDGs.
