Globe’s $700-M modernization, upgrade almost 70% complete

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala-controlled Globe Telecom Inc. announced yesterday that its $700 million network modernization and upgrade project is already nearing 70-percent completion after successfully interconnecting the world-renowned Boracay island through fiber optics.

Globe president and chief executive officer Ernest Cu said in a statement that the completion of the two-kilometer Globe Boracay submarine cable system emanating from Caticlan in Malay, Aklan further bolsters the progress of the company’s network modernization.

 “Like our modernized networks in Cebu, Davao and parts of the National Capital Region, we are raising the bar and bringing the same excellent mobile experience to Boracay, which will definitely advance the level of enjoyment of our subscribers in the area,” Cu stressed.

He pointed out that the investment would positively impact the local travel hotspot with more vibrant tourist activities as well as bring-in a better commercial environment for trade affiliates and enterprise clientele.

He said the company is now preparing for the forthcoming rollout in Palawan that would also be interconnected through fiber optics.

 “This enables Globe to deliver its capacity plans and network quality improvements to usher-in superior mobile experience our customers truly deserve,” Cu added.

Globe chief technical adviser Robert Tan said that the Boracay fiber optic network would power up cell sites with third generation or 3G and Evolved High-Speed Packet Access or HSPA+ connectivity and readily scalable to support Long Term Evolution (LTE) services.

Tan said the cable system would intensify network coverage to the celebrated local tourist destination.

In terms of capacity, the fiber-based Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing system can transmit 80 wavelengths and supports 40 gigabytes per second (Gbps) per wavelength, expandable to 100 Gbps.”

 “Our Globe subscribers in the area can now share their vacation experiences through voice, text and high speed data. They can upload their pictures, videos and posts with unparalleled ease as Boracay’s near-limitless transmission capacity will result to superfast surfing, aside from crystal-clear voice calls and real-time text messaging,” Tan said.

The submarine cable system, he explained, is engineered for a future-proof Globe network, along with those for the entire archipelago and ready for the next generation communication technology.

Huawei Technologies chief executive officer and country manager Li Wei said it was their great honor to play a significant role in this important segment of the total infrastructure transformation efforts of Globe, saying that it was indeed a privilege to work hand-in-hand with such an unprecedented undertaking to build a technologically-advanced brand-new network.

 “With our strong track record of success and IT expertise having done similar projects in other countries, Huawei’s synergies with Globe are working toward establishing a world-class Asian telco infrastructure to elevate telecommunications further for the Filipinos,” he said.

Globe expects to complete about 75 percent of its massive network modernization and upgrade project this year. The project would be finished by the first quarter of next year.

The program covers the relocation of sites, repositioning of antennas new antenna system, laying down 12,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable as well as increasing the number of cell sites covering both 3G and 4G.