Globe seeks removal of lease fees on in-building telco facilities

MANILA, Philippines — Globe Telecom Inc. is seeking for the removal of lease fees on in-building telco facilities to support the push for inclusive connectivity.

Globe has asked property developers to remove the lease fees to give connectivity services equal footing with basic utilities such as water and electricity.

Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu said unregulated installation costs in buildings and establishments have become burdensome for service providers.

“When a developer starts building, they practically beg for power and water. Meanwhile, for us, we want to connect them but they say pay first,” Cu said.

“They actually put all the power facilities in the building to allow their tenants to connect. They don’t charge the water company for every faucet. Yet they want to charge us for every antenna we need to install,” he said.

According to Cu, one developer wanted to charge a 300-percent hike in lease rates for telco facilities just as the pandemic was easing, apparently to cut losses.

Globe said it has been working with building owners and developers to push for the removal of lease fees for in-building solutions (IBS).

Recently, the Ayala-led telco said it scored a win with a top hotel in Pasay City following successful negotiations.

The hotel agreed to remove charges for IBS and retained only its charges for outdoor connectivity facilities, cutting lease charges by 96.18 percent, Globe said.

Cu commended building owners and developers that understand the importance of connectivity and include necessary facilities right from the planning stage of developments.