Globe improves network coverage in Cebu

GLOBE TELECOM, Inc. on Tuesday said it has boosted mobile network coverage in two barangays in Cebu City. In a statement, Globe said it had established two additional cell sites in Barangay Bonbon and Guba, addressing “dead spots” in the hilly areas of Cebu especially during calamities and disasters. The telecommunications company said it plans to build more cell towers in Barangay Tabunan, Sirao, and Babag. “This is part of our vision to provide each and every Filipino access to critical telecommunications services, especially those who live in underserved, sparsely-populated areas, as they need connectivity the most,” Globe General Counsel Froilan M. Castelo was quoted as saying. Globe has been undergoing a massive network modernization program, spending about 32% of revenues a year on this effort. As of end-September 2018, the company said it has ”deployed close to 12,000 LTE sites by fully utilizing 700 MHz, 2600 MHz, and other spectrum assets.” In August, Globe gained approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the establishment of a separate tower company expected to “help speed up the building and deployment of cellular towers in the country.” For the first nine months of 2018, Globe’s net income jumped 17% to P15.15 billion, from the P12.99 billion recorded a year ago. Consolidated service revenues rose 9% to P103.3 billion during the January to September period, “fueled by the surging data revenue growth across all segments.”