Globe taps US-based network provider for Korea service

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. has tapped California-based mobile network service provider Aicent to provide seamless connectivity with Seoul-based SK Telecom to further strengthen its leadership in Long Term Evolution (LTE) roaming.

Globe and SK Telecom would use Aicent’s LTE Roaming Exchange solution to create a continuous and   seamless roaming experience for subscribers as they travel between South Korea and the Philippines.

Data from the Bureau of Immigration showed that close to 1.1 million South Korean tourists visited the country last year, making  South Korea the top source of tourists in the Philippines.

Rizza Maniego-Eala, head of the International Business Group of Globe, said in a statement that the company has realized the need to provide its subscribers with LTE coverage outside the Philippines.

“As the leading LTE roaming operator in the Philippines, Globe realizes that it has become increasingly more important that we provide our subscribers with LTE coverage not only in the country, but also abroad as they activate their roaming services,” Maniego-Eala stessed.

By creating a roaming bridge with SK Telecom through Aicent’s LTE roaming solution, she said Globe would be able to broaden its LTE coverage to South Korea and allow subscribers to enjoy seamless and high-speed broadband and mobile data services.

With the solution, Globe acquires instant connectivity to more than 45 LTE operators worldwide via Aicent’s extensive network of operators all through a single IP connection.

Aicent serves more than three billion mobile in 114 countries through more than 200 mobile operators. On any given day, the Silicon Valley-based firm’s network facilitates over 100 million roaming transactions generated on 150 mobile networks in 114 countries.

By implementing Aicent’s LTE Roaming Exchange service, operators like Globe and SK Telecom would realize better quality of service using a comprehensive, next generation IPX network, cost reductions with the integration of all IP services onto a single network, and improved network management through a robust set of web-based tools with comprehensive traffic reporting and troubleshooting capabilities.

The LTE Roaming Exchange service of Aicent is a managed IP network ecosystem designed to deliver voice, data, and video services with assured quality of service and guaranteed security.

Mobile operators implementing Aicent’s LTE Roaming service will have access to a growing list of LTE operators through Aicent’s extensive list of customers that cover most of the world’s countries allowing their international traveling subscribers to seamlessly roam between the two regions and enjoy a consistent 4G LTE experience.

Globe forged its partnership with SK Telecom in April this year that provided LTE roaming services to the South Korea telco’s subscribers coming to the Philippines.

Globe late last year partnered with China Mobile Hong Kong Co. Ltd. for the same LTE international data roaming service. Moving forward, Globe looks to expand its LTE roaming service with operators from Australia, Singapore, US, Japan, Canada and the Middle East.