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Globe Acknowledges LGUs in Efforts to Build Cell Towers Across the Country
Ensuring connectivity for its customers during the COVID-19 quarantine period, Globe recognizes the local government units who supported its efforts to build more cell sites to meet the resurging demand for telecom services. The company's efforts to invest in building more cell sites relies on the cooperation of local government units (LGUs), barangays, and other stakeholders, which grant permits to jumpstart the construction.
“LGUs play a vital role in building the necessary ICT infrastructure to improve the internet and mobile experience of our customers. Now with the sudden changes in work arrangements, there is an urgent need to build more cellular towers to serve the current data traffic that continuously grows exponentially. We need more cell sites to keep up with the demand, but deployment is only the final step to a long permitting process,” Globe General Counsel Froilan M. Castelo said.
“This is the time for all of us to work together for the greater good. Now, more than ever, we need sufficient mobile coverage to keep in touch with our family and friends, conduct business transactions, make emergency calls, to name a few. And in this increasingly digital environment, we need the internet to get important real-time information about what’s happening around us, and for businesses to continue operating even with a reduced or skeletal workforce,” Castelo added.
In a recent interview, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has again raised the lack of infrastructure in the country. “The Philippines has the lowest site density in the region. We really lack cell sites,” DICT Undersecretary Eliseo Rio said.
Globe expects demand for internet connectivity will continue to increase as companies require their employees to work from home and conduct meetings online. Some students were also required to participate in online classes during the quarantine period.
“We will be of help with what matters most in this period of pandemic – keeping people healthy and safe – by assisting the government in disseminating timely and accurate information, aiding companies to use video conferencing technologies, keeping families connected even if they are far from each other,” Castelo added.
With more people expected to remain indoors during the enhanced community quarantine, the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators has asked the public to use the internet more responsibly. Measures like limiting the use of movie streaming apps and games during peak hours, limiting download of large documents and transfers, or sharing of large data are being recommended.
Globe has been aggressively modernizing and upgrading its network to provide its customers with seamless connectivity. Globe hopes that its efforts to increase the number of cell sites in the country would be complemented by the cooperation of local government units and stakeholders. Globe estimates an average of eight months and over 25 permits are needed before it can build one cellular tower.