Globe network to completely shift to 3G, 4G technology

MANILA, Philippines—Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. has launched a pilot program to replace all old mobile network equipment in Davao City with new third and fourth generation (3G and 4G) technology.

The switch is in line with the company’s efforts to modernize its network by expanding capacity and improving reliability for its subscribers.

The change, however, will leave all old mobile phones, that run on second-generation (2G), obsolete on Globe’s network.

“The network modernization program, touted as the most significant investment of Globe in the last two decades, includes an all-IP infrastructure, pervasive 3G coverage, double fiber optics capacity, 4G and LTE readiness, and overall quality and resiliency,” Globe said in a statement.

Globe said its customers could look forward to vastly improved call quality under pervasive 3G coverage, rare dropped calls, and instantaneous text message delivery as well as enjoy “blazingly fast” mobile internet access.

“This is an unprecedented undertaking which will set the industry benchmark for the most technologically advanced network that radically enhances customer experience, dramatically increases capacity, and effectively manages cost,” Globe president and CEO Ernest L. Cu said.

He said the company has been preparing its network to meet the current and future demands of the market using new cost-efficient and planet-friendly technologies.

The initiative, dubbed as the “Davao Pilot Project,” is part of Globe’s nationwide network modernization worth $790 million. This is being done in partnership with China’s Huawei International and Paris-based Alcatel Lucent.

Globe’s rival Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) is currently undergoing its own network improvements. PLDT’s two year program costs P67 billion.

Despite being outspent two-to-one, Globe said its own network modernization would be on a larger scale and would allow it to overtake its rivals in terms of service coverage and quality.

“Several companies claim to undergo transformation but have never done it in a scale such as this one,” Cu said.