Globe Telecom Inc. targets to install 2,000 new cell sites in 2021, the biggest number in its history, so far.
"With more and more LGUs following the lead of the national government in easing and streamlining the needed requirements, we are targeting to install at least 2,000 new sites,” confirmed Gil Genio, Globe’s Chief Technology and Information Officer.
Without the ARTA JMC and Bayanihan 2, Globe was able to build 500 cell towers in 2018.
A year later, the company doubled its rollouts with 1,100 new sites.
Even with the pandemic, Globe remained on target, rolling out 1,300 sites this year.
The telco lauded national government agencies and local government units for fast tracking the issuance of permits to telcos especially in the second half of this year.
The passage of the Bayanihan To Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 in September 11, 2020 and the ARTA Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 01 s. 2020 has spurred LGUs all over the country to release a record number of permits.
The new legislation eliminated other permitting requirements that have been the cause of delay for the last several years.
To expedite builds, Globe also partnered with five independent tower companies to put up 900 new installations in the key locations across the country.
“With a promising start with these tower companies in 2021, we can expect to see more cell towers in different areas in the country," Genio noted.
"These new builds will help increase capacity of our network in most areas and at the same time provide better access and mobile experience to customers in parts of the country where we initially don’t have a cell site,” he explained.
Globe has laid out a 3-pronged strategy for its network upgrades and expansion, which includes aggressive cell site builds; upgrading its cell sites to 4G/LTE using many different frequencies; and fast tracking the fiberization of Filipino homes nationwide.