Similar to many places worldwide, the Korean Pop or K-pop wave has invaded the City of Bacolod. The catchy pop tunes and elaborate videos captured an audience with the Negrenses in the City of Smiles, home of the similarly colorful and vibrant Masskara Festival.
As more and more people consume their media online, K-pop included, a stable and reliable internet connection becomes a must, prompting Globe to double its efforts in Bacolod City and nearby areas to provide residents with the connectivity they deserve.
Particularly in this time of limited mobility, artists’ and fans’ interaction has moved online. Better data service has become necessary for fans to engage in the overall K-pop experience.
For 18-year-old BLACKPINK fanatic Kyla Marie Estrera, it is important to fully immerse herself and revel in the dazzling visuals of her favorite group’s music videos, online concerts, and even fan events.
“Nagpapasaya po talaga sa aming mga Blinks ang BLACKPINK pero kapag nanunuod na po kami, nahihinto na dahil sa mahinang internet connection sa aming lugar. Ngayon po malakas na ang internet. Salamat sa 4G dahil achieve na namin ang saya! Tuloy na rin ang video call namin ngayon!” said Kyla.
Reliable internet also spells a huge difference to UP Professor and K-pop fan Dr. Erik Capistrano, an online fan page moderator. A consistent connection is necessary for him to provide regular updates to his online community.
“Bilang isang admin at moderator, nagmo-monitor ako ng chat box at comments lalo ngayon mabilis kumalat ang haters at fake news. Kaya kapag hindi ko agad nakita yung mga hate message, hindi ko sila nabibigyan ng time para balikan at ayusin. We are talking about people around the world,” he said.
Prof. Erik added: “Maraming mga Korean contents clips, behind the scenes na napi-feature ang mga Korean idols natin. Kapag mahina ang signal hindi mo na-e-experience ng buo yung digital content. Lalo na sa era ngayon ng 4G! Malaki ang demand ng internet dyan.”
A major reason for poor internet connection is the use of 3G SIM, which relies on old mobile technology. 3G is already considered obsolete and is being replaced by newer and faster 4G LTE worldwide. Globe customers are encouraged to visit the Globe Stores to change their 3G SIM to 5G-ready 4G LTE SIM for free. They may also shift to 4G LTE-capable devices for a better experience.
With Globe’s commitment to providing the best services to its millions of subscribers, cell towers in the City of Bacolod have been upgraded to the faster and more stable 4G LTE network.
“We have seen an uptick in data consumption with the growing global audience of these international multimedia artists. This is why we are continuously upgrading our network facilities all over the country to provide the best experience for our subscribers wherever they may be,” explains Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Program Delivery, Network Technical Group.
The upgrade to a high-speed, stronger connection is a relief to K-pop fans in the province. “Ngayong nag-i-improve na tayo to 4G, siyempre mas napapadali yung buhay nating mga fans. At yung pag-order din natin ng mga albums, posters at mga items, mas mabilis na rin kasi less hassle na, said Prof. Erik.
To view the video on the “City of Smiles” Bacolod, please click here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1189888288189659.
Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, highlighting the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. The company is committed to upholding the UN Global Compact principles and contributing to 10 UN Sustainable Development Goals.