Ayala-led Globe Telecom is asking its customers to support its call for fair network use as the firm seeks to combat signal pollution due to the unauthorized use of signal boosters.
Amid its sustained efforts to expand and boost network coverage across the country, Globe underscored the detrimental effects of illegally used signal repeaters, which weaken mobile signals in surrounding areas.
In its statement, the firm said using illegally sold signal boosters pollutes the network, causing dropped calls, choppy or garbled lines, robotic voices, and weak or no signal.
“We understand network challenges that some customers experience in densely populated areas,” said Globe Senior Vice President and Head of Network Planning and Engineering Joel Agustin.
He noted that “we appeal to them to resist resorting to the illegal use of signal repeaters, as this spoils the network experience of mobile users around them, robbing them of the life-enabling benefits of connectivity.”
The sale, purchase, importation, possession, or use of portable cellular mobile repeaters and cell site equipment is banned under NTC’s Memorandum Order No. 01-02-2013, pursuant to the Public Telecommunications Policy Act.
Under the 2013 memo, only licensed mobile network operators and government agencies “performing functions vital to national security or safety” can purchase, import, possess, and use signal boosters.
If facing challenges in placing calls or sending SMS, customers may use Voice Over WiFi (VOWiFi), technology that allows mobile phone users to tap a WiFi connection for placing voice calls. There are no additional charges for using this service.
VoWiFi requires a WiFi connection and a device enabled for WiFi Calls. It is activated through the phone’s connectivity settings and by switching on “WiFi Calling.”
“We call on our customers to support fair signal distribution and do their part in achieving our goal of digitalizing the nation with no one left behind,” said Agustin.