Globe Telecom Inc. is seeking partnership with property developers to push for built-in broadband and dedicated spaces for telco infrastructure in housing projects.
Currently, the telco has 18 property developer partners, with 200 development projects covering nearly 100,000 units fitted with built-in broadband.
This makes internet connectivity instantly available to residents upon move-in a “differentiator” among players in the property market, according to Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu.
“What we envision is, when a customer steps into a property, he is ready to connect just like electricity and water are readily available," he explained.
"And it’s great we’ve gotten this far in terms of our existing partner developers, because like Globe, they are also customer-centric. We are no longer just talking to a blank wall.”
Globe’s property partners include ASEANA Holdings Inc., Cebu Landmasters Inc., Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), and the Victor Consunji Development Corp. (VCDC).
They have all have committed to supporting Globe’s quest for immediate connectivity in housing, from condominiums to villages.
Aleady, connectivity has become part of customers’ criteria in searching for a new home.
“Customers are demanding it so why should we say no? Spending on fibering units is a basic expectation,” says John Richard Sotelo, Senior Vice President and Business Unit General Manager of RLC Residences,
"We have reached a point that when people find out you don’t have fiber, clients back out,” he admitted.
Cebu Landmasters Inc. Chief Operating Officer, Director and Executive Vice President Franco Soberano, whose firm was one of the early adopters of fiber in its developments, cited the practicality of early collaboration between Globe and developers for built-in connectivity.
“It just makes sense to make this mandatory. It will make everyone’s customers happy,” he acknowledged.
Instant connectivity should be the norm, not the novelty, in property development, maintained Delfin Angelo “Buds” Wenceslao, CEO of DM Wenceslao Group, master developer of Aseana City.
“Similar to how we view other ground utilities, it shouldn’t be an option, it should be standard,” he stressed.
“It’s kind of funny, Globe was having connectivity issues with cellphones in our development projects 10 to 12 years ago," according to VCDC founder and CEO Victor Consunji.
"At the time, we had a lot of dead spots. We found out it was taking them forever to negotiate for four to six suare meters of space to put up cell towers. That’s when everything shifted and I said whatever space you want, go get it, just get towers in. It’s a win-win situation for everybody. I think that is when we really started to jibe,” Consunji elaborated.
Globe stands ready to work with developers in embedding connectivity in their projects, Cu pledged.
“We’re here to work with you. We know that this is an area that probably is not within the realm of competence of your engineering teams, just like we don’t know construction. We‘re here to provide that service. We’re here for you,” he concluded.