Today, two-thirds of the world's 7.6 billion inhabitants have a mobile phone. More than half of these are smartphones, and in the past decade, the market has increased tenfold. With this initial, unrelenting surge now transforming into steady long-term growth, more and more of the planet has digital connectivity in the palm of its hand. That's an incredibly powerful tool.
Businesses have been quick to seize the opportunity. Brands large or small now have the ability to be closer than ever to their customers, thanks to social media, which, globally, some three billion of us now access via mobile. Companies ride the digital wave internally, using cloud technologies to enable everything from going paperless, to scaling up the business quickly — a revolution has led to an evolution in decentralization. Through the use of innovative apps, employees can now be anywhere and still work effectively, in real-time, on business-critical projects and issues using tools such as Slack and Workplace by Facebook.
With the onset of 5G, this transformation will take another huge leap forward, enabling faster data transfer, quicker response time and even more connections, paving the way for a proliferation of Internet-connected things in our lives. And the really good news is that, currently, Asia is ahead of both Europe and the US in the race to bring 5G and its boundless potential to the masses. This has been achieved thanks to forward-thinking telecommunications giants such as Globe Telecom, who have invested heavily to bring about much-needed change.
Innovators Paving The Way
As part of this charge towards a new ultra-connected frontier, the Philippines has been vocal about its own ambitions. Recent surveys prove this beyond any doubt, with 74 percent of the 106 million-strong population believing new technologies offer more opportunities than risks, and 64 percent preferring to complete tasks digitally wherever possible. Google's own consumer barometer research backs this up, showing that 89 percent of the population own a mobile (of any kind), and 65 percent have a smartphone. And they're connected: of the Philippines' 67 million active social media users, 62 million of them are active through mobile. Which is why in 2018, it's still the social media capital of the world.
According to Ookla's Global Speedtest Index report for November 2017, the Philippines registered an average mobile Internet download speed of 12.35 Mbps — comparable to countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and India. Improving though it is, there's still more to be done. Operators face regulatory bottlenecks at odds with the goal of providing better services to the public. To build just one new cellular tower site, for example, a telco operator must first secure more than 25 permits from local governments units — a process that can add around eight months to the schedule.
In the past two years, the country's leading telco innovator Globe Telecom has spent almost $800 million annually to expand its own network in order to connect more Filipinos. In doing so, it has deployed over 10,000 4G LTE sites nationwide, using frequencies optimised for wider coverage and increased capacity. Indeed, the vast majority of its LTE sites have been deployed in Metro Manila and other highly populated areas, directly benefitting those whose desire for connectivity has led them to the countless opportunities that LTE handsets afford.
The public are also encouraged to air their Internet service grievances with the mayor or provincial governor, thanks to initiatives like Globe's #1stWorldInternetPH campaign. As a direct result of such conversations, the deployment of cell sites in affected areas is accelerated dramatically.
Crossing oceans to deliver faster, better connections
Other Globe commitments for connectivity can be found in its Southeast Asia-United States efforts, an extraordinary undertaking to bypass the Taiwan earthquake zone and deliver faster Internet. Launched in August 2017, this $250 million sub-marine cable system stretches 14,500km, connecting the Globe cable landing station in Barangay Talomo, Davao City, to the US via Guam, Hawaii and California. In a first for the country, it now delivers the latest 100 Gigabits per second (Gbps) transmission technology to offer an additional 20 terabits per second capacity, catering for the exponential growth of bandwidth between the two continents.
Another significant leap has been the implementation of Multiple In, Multiple Out technology (MIMO) for broadband connectivity. With demand outstripping supply on a regular basis, this new MIMO technology enables the transfer of more data, and at the same time, can accommodate more users. Since its roll-out in 2017, Globe has been able to multiply the capacity of a wireless connection without the need for extra antennas. For home broadband, the speed and range benefits of MIMO and the reliable data connection it delivers is perfect for video streaming — a world of entertainment and more that Filipinos are now getting into the habit of using, especially for snackable entertainment.
These and other Globe initiatives not only ensure the best possible connectivity for businesses and citizens alike, but also loyalty from a grateful and growing customer base — almost two-thirds of the Philippines' data traffic now flows through its network.
"It is important to keep our country competitive. We are committed to provide our customers with superior experience," says Globe President and CEO, Ernest Cu. "First-world connection is more than just fast internet, but is also building a whole ecosystem of experience through wonderful content, affordable devices and reliable services."
