MOBILE-services provider Globe Telecom Inc. plans to maximize the use of its newly acquired frequencies, with its chief honcho vowing to deploy “thousands” of cell sites throughout 2019.
Ernest L. Cu, Globe president, said his company is on track with its initial plan of covering most urban areas with 700-megahertz (MHz) radio frequency cell sites, and is poised to deploy more come 2017.
“We are doing very well. We plan to deploy 500 cell sites on the 700-MHz band, and we have thousands more in the 2,600-MHz band,” he said in a chance interview.
Based on data from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Globe is set to deploy about 4,500 multiband, multimode software-defined radio base station equipment and capacity upgrades in three years to improve overall customer experience in terms of speed and reliability of its mobile services.
The program took into consideration certain conditions that include priority areas with substantial existing demand and high-traffic growth trends; key development areas to further promote the country’s overall economic development; and maximum use of Globe-assigned frequencies for the 700 MHz; 1,800 MHz; 2,300 MHz; and 2,600 MHz.
Globe and rival PLDT Inc. gained access to a swathe of frequencies after they coacquired San Miguel Corp.’s telco assets in May. Both telcos have since deployed a number of cell sites across the country using the new frequencies.
Aside from improving its wireless network, Globe is also pursuing its fixed broadband-expansion program to propel the Philippine Internet index to a comparative level within the region.
The company is committed to provide ultra-fast Internet in 2 million households over 20,000 barangays by 2020. It intends to spend $2 billion for the program.