Fiber-optic technology powers Globe's high-speed Tattoo Torque

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Telecom calls it Internet connection at the speed of light.

With a minimum speed 6 Mbps, which is twice the maximum speed of a DSL connection, Globe’s latest broadband offering - Tattoo Torque - has an advantage. This minimum speed, however, can expand to as much as 100 Mbps, and by March, even up to 150 Mbps.

In layman’s terms, a 6 Mbps connection would allow one to download a movie, around 700 to 800 MB in around 20 to 30 minutes, instead of the usual 24 hours.

“This is the most premium and the fastest broadband offering of Globe Tattoo so far,” says Dong Ronquillo, Globe’s head of broadband and landline marketing.

Ronquillo said the maximum speed of Tattoo Torque currently is 100 Mbps. However, by March this year, this would be expanded to 150 Mbps.

He says Globe would also be offering 12 Mbps and 50 Mbps packages. However, the service is still in its initial stage and is only offered in exclusive villages like Forbes Park, Bel Air, Urdaneta Village and Serendra.

“We are now in the test market. It depends on the demand. If we determine that there is a demand for this kind of Internet technology that runs on fiber optic for faster speed, then maybe we can expand in the future,” he says.

The basic package for Tattoo Torque at 6 Mbps is priced at P2,999 per month. The 100 Mbps connection, on the other hand, is at P14,999. Both packages already come with a free landline and a Wi-Fi router. When the 150 Mbps package is offered in March, it will be priced at P19,999 per month.

“Basically, this product is driven by the fact that people are now using the Internet heavily and there’s demand for faster downloads and high-quality, high-definition entertainment,” Ronquillo says.

“Second, of course, is the time. We all want a more efficient way of using the Internet so we can do more,” he adds.

Globe’s pioneering Tattoo Torque is powered by state-of-the-art fiber optic technology called Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON).

According to Ronquillo, the product is offered under the Tattoo brand because Globe is widening its broadband portfolio.

“The vision of the Tattoo brand is to be the authority in broadband. So, all our broadband offerings from DSL and WiMax to Torque will be integrated into one brand, which is Tattoo. All our plans in the near future will be to maintain the Tattoo portfolio with all these products,” he explains.

“Tattoo is already a popular brand in the market. It has already the imagery of the youth, which is a key driver,” he adds.

Globe earlier announced that its broadband customers have reached one million in September 2010. “We are expecting a lot of growth from broadband,” Ronquillo says.

The line-up of Tattoo products comes with new brand ambassadors, including running-coach-to-the-stars Rio de la Cruz, cosplay goddess Alodia Gosiengfiao and art diva Sarah Gaugler. Ronquillo says they are the ideal embodiments of the dynamic, confident spirit of Tattoo.