GLOBE Telecom, Inc. is ramping up utilization of frequencies acquired from San Miguel Corp. and has announced the deployment of more assets in Cebu as it expands its reach nationwide to improve its broadband and mobile connectivity.
The Ayala-led network said to improve mobile services in Cebu, it would continue to ramp deployment of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) sites using the 700 megahertz (MHz), 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz bands. “In line with its vision of providing connectivity to two million homes in 2020, Globe... has started its aggressive rollout of facilities in major locations around the country. The province of Cebu is one of its key locations,” Globe said in a statement over the weekend. Since the telecommunications company gained access to new spectrum assets in the middle of last year, it said close to 600 LTE sites had been activated in Cebu alone. Globe is working closely with local government units, which help the network expand for its broadband connectivity to reach more homes. In Cebu, Globe At Home Fibre sites are available in Dona Modesta Gaisano St.; Friendship Street; Justice St.; Wisdom St.; Freedom St.; Yakal St.; Mahogany St.; Obedience St.; A. Villalon Drive; Hacienda Salinas; Wilson St. corner Pasteur St.; Marconi St.; La Guardia St.; 1st St.; Sanson Road; Sanson Road Extension; Sanjercas Ville Private Road; and Salinas Drive Extension. Expansions in Mandaue City are also underway and will continue to reach more locations in Cebu and the rest of the country, Globe said. The company is investing bulk of its $750-million capital expenditure this year in data-related projects, modernization of fixed line data infrastructure, and requirements for transmission facilities and for the deployment of more LTE and for rollout of data. It plans to leverage on its additional spectrum from San Miguel’s telco assets, which it jointly acquired with PLDT, Inc. by investing heavily in LTE to improve both mobile data and fixed wireless broadband. Globe plans to deploy around 1,800 LTE 700 sites and 1,000 LTE 2600 sites this year. It will also add 1,800 LTE 1800 sites “in order to boost LTE capacity and coverage.” In the first three months of 2017, the company’s net income fell 13% to P3.761 billion from P4.335 billion during the same period a year ago, weighed down by higher interest and depreciation expenses, as well as charges related to its joint buyout of San Miguel’s telco assets. Globe is looking at a 5% growth in revenue and a 40% EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) margin.