Globe Telecom has announced the expansion of its 5G network to 17 key cities in the National Capital Region (NCR, aka Metropolitan Manila), Visayas and Mindanao. With the company looking to accelerate the rollout of the next generation technology, it confirmed upgrades in Bacolod, Boracay, Iloilo, Talisay, Lapu-Lapu, Cordova and Minglanilla, as well as in Cebu City in Visayas and Davao City and Cagayan De Oro in Mindanao.
In a press release, it said that in the first week of November its 5G network had ‘already reached certain areas in Davao City’ and invited customers to connect using a 5G-ready mobile device via one of its post-paid plans.
In addition, Chief Technology and Information Officer Gil Genio said: ‘We have a very active 5G development in Metro Manila and we hope to cover 80% of that soon. We are probably in the two-thirds range right now. To complement this, we have also begun to roll out in six key cities in Visayas and Mindanao as part of the overall change we are making to bring 5G to more places and customers in the country.’ As it adds more sites in the NCR region, Globe claims to be on course to cover around 80% of Metro Manila by the end of 2020. Its aggressive 5G rollout is part of a three-pronged strategy for network upgrades and expansion, which includes rapid cell site build-out; upgrading sites to 4G/LTE using many different frequencies; and fast-tracking the ‘fiberisation’ of Filipino homes nationwide.