Globe to complete Davao network upgrade in 2 years

MANILA, Philippines – Globe Telecom expects to complete in two years its Davao pilot project, which will replace all 2G equipment with 3G and 4G transmitters to improve reliability, ease of access and seamless coverage.

The Davao pilot project is part of Globe’s $790-million (P36 billion) network modernization program aimed at enhancing customer experience via a technologically advanced network in partnership with Huawei of China and Alcatel Lucent.

The network modernization program, touted as the most significant investment of Globe in the last two decades, includes an all-IP infrastructure, pervasive 3G coverage, double fiber optics capacity, 4G and LTE readiness, and overall quality and resiliency.

Once completed, Globe envisions a robust and resilient network that can provide an unparalleled customer experience to truly set the company apart from competition.

The new Globe network and IT systems are not only designed to address all current customer needs but would also have the capacity and capability for more sophisticated use of mobile and broadband technologies.

Globe said its customers can look forward to vastly improved call quality under pervasive 3G coverage, rare dropped calls, and instantaneous SMS delivery as well as enjoy blazingly fast mobile Internet access.

“This is an unprecedented undertaking which will set the industry benchmark for the most technologically advanced network that radically enhances customer experience, dramatically increases capacity, and effectively manages cost,” Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu said.

Cu revealed that they are gearing up Globe’s network to meet the current and future demands of the market using new technologies that are cost efficient and planet friendly.

“We are effectively raising the bar of technology and service in industry to elevate us to par with the world’s most advanced telecom communities and practices,” he said.

Meanwhile, Globe is poised to increase usage of Facebook among Filipinos with its newest offer that provides users with unlimited access to the social networking site via their mobile phones at an affordable price.

Exclusively available to Globe prepaid subscribers, Globe SuperFB is a mobile Internet plan for Facebook users who are always on the go. Accessible via m.facebook.com for Internet-enabled mobile phones, the service allows users to browse through their Facebook accounts to post status and comments, add friends, upload and tag photos, and more. TM subscribers can avail of the promo via the AstigFB offer.

Globe SuperFB and AstigFB offers are available for only P10 and valid for an entire day of unlimited use. At less than 50 centavos per hour, this is one of the most affordable mobile Internet plans in the market today. 

With these new offers, Globe targets to exponentially grow its mobile browsing subscriber base by the end of the year. The company has recently been cited as the most popular service provider for mobile Internet in the Yahoo! Net Index 2011.

The Philippines ranks eight in the world with the most number of Facebook users, with over 27 million Filipinos accessing the social networking site. Online penetration has been recorded at over 92 percent, which means that out of 10 Filipinos who have access to the World Wide Web, nine users have Facebook accounts.

“Globe continues to make the mobile phone Filipinos’ primary source of social interaction, entertainment, and information. With our new Facebook mobile offers, we are bringing the world’s favorite social networking site closer to Filipinos, complete with a worry-free experience. You don’t need to wait until you’re home with your PC or laptop or constantly search for Wi-Fi just to be Facebook-connected. Get full-day Facebook access at a cost within reach with Globe SuperFB and AstigFB,” Globe portfolio management head Joanna Africa pointed out.

To avail of the offer, Globe prepaid subscribers can dial *143#, the company’s newest service that allows subscribers to easily register to various Globe promos without having to memorize keywords. TM subscribers can register by texting ASTIGFB10 to 8888.