Globe Telecom announced that its network transformation
program is halfway completed, with nationwide cellsite change-out set to finish
by first quarter of 2013.
Providing key updates on its network transformation program,
Globe Telecom President and CEO Ernest Cu described the company’s massive
modernization effort as “different” in many ways from a traditional
transformation that other networks go through.
“Others mask modernization with simply a business-as-usual
change-out of old equipment. At Globe, our transformation is very different
because it is indeed building a brand new network covering core elements,
transmission, and access equipment,” he confirmed.
Cu said that with the complete replacement of its
infrastructure, Globe has effectively future-proofed the network with thrice
the number of 3G base stations for better call quality and more pervasive
coverage, and ready for the commercial launch of 4G LTE this month as the
modernization pushes forward.
To date, over 3,000 Globe
cellsites have already been swapped with the newest, best-in-class
infrastructure while simultaneously increasing 4G HSPA+ footprint by 4x the
current site count. Of these, the Globe network in the following areas have
already been transformed: Bulacan, Marikina,
Cebu, Davao, South Luzon, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Malabon, Navotas,
Apayao, Zamboanga, Sibugay, Sorsogon, and Basilan. The change-out in Quezon City will be completed by September, Ortigas and Pasig by October, and
Makati Central Business District by November.
Aside from the hardware needed to power the new
infrastructure, Cu reported that Globe has also steadily progressed with the
nationwide installation of over 12,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable—the main
backbone of providing rapid mobile data streams—which will address issues of
slow mobile internet and the over-extended backhaul that most networks are
experiencing.
The current Globe network is designed to provide quality
voice and SMS service on the back of subscriber demand back in the early 2000s.
However, the advent of ‘unlimited services’ and new technologies such as mobile
browsing giving subscribers access to the Internet via their mobile phones have
resulted to existing challenges in the legacy network.
What does this mean for the consumer once the new network is
powered up? The highest-ranking Globe official said that it will have “more
capacity, lead to quicker, clearer and better quality call and text experience.
With our entirely new network, all these inconveniences will be a thing
of the past.”
Cu also outlined the initiatives undertaken by Globe to
ensure the full extent of the infrastructure improvements, which include a
complete re-planning of its cell sites by actually relocating, repositioning
and adding new sites and radio antennas, shifting to a new antenna technology
to enhance coverage as well as improving power efficiency by using renewable
energy to reduce the company’s carbon footprint.
He also corrected reports pertaining to the modernization
efforts undertaken by Globe, saying that “for the last five months we have been
moving very quickly, updating and installing more than 100 sites a week since
April of this year. So we are 50% done in terms of network change-outs.”
In
summary, the Globe president provided a clear picture of what to expect in the
network transformation: “This is no usual upgrade. A brand new network will be
coming with capacity many years forward, state-of-the-art performance and
superior capabilities. You will see and you will find out that this network
modernization is indeed real. It is coming and you will feel the difference
when it comes to your particular area which will be very, very soon.” Cu said.
No comments:
Post a Comment