Globe cell site in Catangnan which covers the municipality of General Luna where Cloud 9, the surfing area in Siargao, is located
Globe enhances connectivity at the tourist paradise of Siargao in Surigao del Norte as it fires up three cell sites in the municipalities of General Luna, Pilar, and Dapa. The move paves the way for more tourists from different parts of the country and the world to learn about Siargao as well as promotes financial inclusion and business growth on the island.
Siargao, known for its unique island vibe, has drawn foreign and local tourists in the past years and has contributed to the boom of tourism-related establishments such as hotels, restaurants and travel operators, among others.
“We know that a lot of people in Siargao are looking for better connectivity. The topography of Siargao is quite challenging — a large area, quite hilly, and the population is spread out so its very expensive to put up a cell site in Siargao. However we also know its potential given the beauty of the place and its commitment to sustainable tourism,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO.
He added: “With these three new cell sites, we bring data services to the island so that tourists can share their Siargao experience to the rest of the world. We are laying down fiber so that businesses can have a better internet connection to aid them in the digitalization of their operations. Since Siargao lacks banks, we enable financial transactions through the mobile phone using GCash. This is just the start, there are more coming up,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO.
Globe spends about 45 percent of its annual income on telco infrastructure, with the belief that providing data services is the first step towards true progress. Thus, Cu implored local government officials in Siargao to help expedite the release of permits for site acquisition and establishment of cell sites if Siargao is to become an important player in the Philippine tourism industry.
“The local government units are a major component of our efforts to bring connectivity to the communities. Let us make Siargao an example so that all of these impediments to building infrastructure in this country will go away. We will bring our services to the people because we believe Globe can change people’s lives. We are already doing that through connectivity and financial inclusion, among others,” he said.
Cu pointed out the perennial problem being encountered by Globe in the deployment of cell sites in the country. From negotiations and documentation of prospective cell site location to securing structural permits and approvals, Globe estimates an average of eight months and over 25 permits before it can build one cellular tower.
Siargao is one of the major tourism areas in the country where Globe showcased its various products and services such as Globe myBusiness digital tools for MSMEs, Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi, GoWiFi, Globe Traveler SIM, and GCash. This is part of the recent strategic partnership entered into by Globe and the Department of Tourism on the promotion and digitalization of Philippine tourism.