Telco backs calls for ICT policy reforms as it drives innovations to boost access to connectivity in PH

Globe reiterates its call for the government to pursue policy reforms to improve the country’s digital infrastructure, aligned with a recent discussion paper released by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, a state think tank.

The leading digital solutions platform also supports calls to remove bureaucratic roadblocks to digitalization, such as the lack of a law requiring developments to allocate space for telco and other ICT infrastructure, and the need to institutionalize a streamlined permitting system for telco towers.

PIDS’ discussion paper “Upgrading the ICT Regulatory Framework: Toward Accelerated and Inclusive Digital Connectivity” cited the need for further reforms in policies governing ICT in the country to enable better internet access in the country, among others.

This is parallel to Globe’s long-standing call for laws and policy reforms that would enable telcos to expand network infrastructure, paving the way for improved connectivity in the country.

These include the passage of a bill mandating property developers to provide telcos space for towers and other infrastructure in housing developments, which fell short of passage in the last Congressional session. Lawmakers supportive of this measure are expected to sponsor the bill again.

Globe is also pushing for internet-ready developments and hopes to see a revision in the National Building Code to require developers to have provisions for connectivity the same way utilities such as power and water lines are built in.

Pending such policy reforms, Globe has been taking the lead in the delivery of affordable connectivity to Filipinos across the archipelago despite prevailing infrastructure and policy constraints.

Through an aggressive rollout of fiber-to-the-home lines, Globe has been contributing to consistently improving internet speeds in the country.

Globe has been ramping up migration of its customers to fiber to provide fast and stable internet connectivity, logging a 102% rise in fiber subscribers in the second quarter this year compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, it continues to provide affordable mobile data plans and market-leading broadband offers that make connectivity more inclusive and accessible to a greater number of Filipinos.

This is evidenced by the leap in Globe’s mobile data traffic year-on-year, from 1,761 petabytes in the first half of 2021 to 2,177 petabytes in the same period this year.

Globe’s price per GB also remains among the lowest in Southeast Asia at P6.00 versus telco operators in Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, based on a comparison of current rates.

With majority of Globe mobile users on prepaid, Globe has affordable connectivity promos to make the internet accessible to as many Filipinos as possible:

• GO50, which bundles together 5 GB of connectivity with UNLI text to all networks at P50 for three days.
• GOPLUS99 with 8 GB of mobile internet data, 8 GB of content and UNLI text to all networks at P99 for 7 days.

For home internet, Globe offers some of the most affordable fixed internet connectivity plans in the market with the fastest speeds.

• GFiber UNLI 1699 plan at up to 150Mbps and GFiber UNLI Plan 2099 at up to 300Mbps
• GFiber Flex at P899 per month for 300 GB at up to 25Mbps, which comes down to just P30 per day
• Home Prepaid WiFi at P799 with free 50 GB data and reloadable with shareable data.

Globe is also reaching out to underserved communities with its recent offer of prepaid fiber connectivity, the newly-launched TMBayan Fiber WiFi. With TMBayan Fiber WiFi, sari-sari stores, community centers, town plazas and other neighborhood convergence areas serve as WiFi hubs.

Through TMBayan Fiber WiFi, users may connect at sulit rates:

• P50 for 3 days of unlimited fiber connectivity
• P20 for 12 hours of unlimited fiber connectivity
• P5 for 1 hour of unlimited fiber connectivity

This followed its earlier offer of affordable, fast and secure community WiFi service to households across the country through KonekTayo WiFi, available without the need of a modem, postpaid subscription or mobile data.

Globe also continues aggressive network expansion and upgrades to deliver a #1stWorldNetwork to Filipinos. It built 572 new cell towers and upgraded ~6,800 mobile sites to 4G LTE in the first half of the year, with a target of 1,700 new cell sites by yearend, aiming to beat the 2021 total of 1,407 site builds.

*Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data as reported on https://www.speedtest.net/global-index/philippines  for August 2022. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.