Globe improves LTE coverage in Visayas and Mindanao

Globe Telecom has extended its LTE network footprint in Visayas and Mindanao as part of a commitment to use the 4G frequencies it gained following the acquisition of San Miguel Corp’s telco assets last year. In a statement published yesterday (24 August), the telco confirmed that no fewer than 3,000 4G sites have already been installed in the Visayas and Mindanao region – or 60% of total base stations deployed there. The 4G rollout will improve data speeds markedly it claims, meeting pent up demand in a segment that has seen mobile data traffic surge 85% in the first half of 2017. Globe is utilising 700MHz spectrum for wider coverage, as well as a combination of 1800MHz and 2600MHz frequencies to bolster indoor penetration. Earlier, the firm’s CEO Ernest Cu recently said that his company is mulling plans to increase its CAPEX budget this year by USD50 million to USD800 million. By 30 June, Globe had spent about USD540 million of its full-year budget, although Cu says that a final decision on its proposed CAPEX hike would be made within the current (third) quarter.