Filipino fixed and mobile operator Globe Telecom yesterday released a statement confirming that its planned USD790 million network upgrade is roughly one-third complete, benefiting its users in South Luzon, Davao and Compostela Valley. ‘Within a span of four months since its announcement in January this year, Globe has modernised at least 30% of its network equipment located in various cell sites nationwide,’ the statement read. Globe chief technical officer Robert Tan went on to say that the operator is hoping to effect a seamless changeover on its network, creating as little impact on its customers as possible, with Globe adding that via a fast-tracked project, the modernisation should be completed this year.
Earlier, Globe president Ernest L Cu was quoted as saying that his company hoped to complete 75% of its network modernisation in 2012, finishing the project within 18 months and completing the IT upgrade part of the scheme within three years. ‘Globe Telecom is rolling out over 10,000km of fibre-optic cable, which will significantly increase capacity, resiliency and better traffic management to accommodate and protect more voice, SMS, and data traffic,’ the telco said.
Earlier this week TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate reported Globe CFO Albert de Larrazabal as saying that the group will invest a total of USD640 million this year and in 2013, as part of its USD790 CAPEX spend for the next five-year period. Globe currently has 12,714 base transceiver stations (BTS) and 7,060 cell sites across the Philippines to support its 2G, 3G, 4G and WiMAX services. As part of the future-proofing of its network, the provider is preparing itself to cater for an anticipated increase in voice and SMS traffic and a sharp rise in mobile data traffic. Globe is currently deploying HSPA+ technology in select areas in the country and is also deploying its first Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G equipment in the nation’s capital.