Globe now in talks with 5 HOAs to improve customer experience

Globe Telecom expressed optimism that it could still provide better customer experience in exclusive villages after some home owners associations (HOAs) in exclusive villages responded positively to the open letter that the company released recently.

The HOAs that immediately conveyed their willingness to help Globe to roll out cell sites in their villages are Magallanes, Bel-Air, Greenhills North, Ayala Alabang and Hillsborough.

Globe General Counsel Atty. Froilan Castelo said that representatives of the company are now in talks with the said HOAs about the telecommunications infrastructure needed for their respective villages. “We are confident that the HOAs will consider the benefits of a connected community in this digital age over the myths of health risks,” Castelo said.

Globe issued an open letter to its customers residing in exclusive villages that it is still unable to provide sufficient mobile and internet coverage in their homes due to continuing challenges in securing the necessary permits and right-of-way approval from your respective HOAs and/or barangays.

Meanwhile, the homeowners in Dasmarinas Village voted to retain the Outdoor Distributed Antenna System (ODAS) inside their subdivision last April 2 five days after Globe issued the open letter.  Although Globe welcomed the development in Dasmarinas Village, the HOA needs to consider replacing the ODAS with regular cell sites to accommodate the increasing number of mobile data users in their subdivision, according to Castelo.

The ODAS make use of small cell technology to help amplify mobile signal in a limited area. The antennas may be installed on lampposts to make it aesthetically acceptable in many subdivisions.  ODAs however do not replace the capabilities and performance of cell sites or cell towers.

Castelo is also hopeful that Globe can also sit down with other HOAs to discuss on how to improve connectivity in their villages. The villages named in the open letter where Globe is having difficulty to build cell sites are: Forbes Park, Dasmarinas, Magallanes, San Lorenzo, Bel-Air, Green Meadows, La Vista, Greenhills North, Fruitville, JEE Village, BF Homes, Merville, South Bay Garden, Concepcion, Modesta, Loyola Grand Villas, Jaybee, St. Mary’s Subdivision, Vista Real Classica Subdivision, Meteor Homes, Valle Verde 1, Kings Vill Executive Village, Smile CitiHomes Condominium, Thomas Homes, and Vista Rio.

Castelo reiterated the  findings of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) which are both globally recognized and highly respected institutions with expertise in determining whether these facilities do impact health and well-being of the citizens in the area. “We have to recognize that their studies clearly state that cell sites have no adverse effects to human health,” he said.

He also emphasized that two of the 25 permits needed in building one cell site come from the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure the necessary precaution are in place. “The DOH implements a tougher standard on thermal (heat) emissions from local cell sites which are at least four times lower than what has been approved globally,” he revealed.

Globe has been aggressively modernizing and upgrading its network using the latest technologies to improve its mobile services for its customers to have a wonderful and seamless connectivity. Over the last 5 years, Globe has allocated more than a quarter of its revenues annually, amounting to $750 million per year in network investment.