Globe’s Cu: Our brand new network is real; not merely an “upgrade”

Sept. 10, 2012 - PRLog -- Providing key updates on its total network transformation, Globe Telecom President and CEO Ernest Cu described the company’s massive modernization effort as “different” in many ways from a traditional transformation that other networks go through.

“Others mask modernization with simply a business-as-usual change-out of old equipment. At Globe, our transformation is very different because it is indeed building a brand new network,” he confirmed.

Speaking at a recent press briefing, Cu said that with the complete replacement of its infrastructure, Globe has effectively future-proofed the network with thrice the number of 3G base stations for better call quality and pervasive coverage, and ready for  the commercial launch of 4G LTE this month as the modernization pushes forward.

Aside from the hardware needed to power the new infrastructure, Cu reported that Globe has also steadily progressed with the nationwide installation of over 12,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable—the main backbone of providing rapid mobile data streams—which will address issues of slow mobile internet and the over-extended backhaul that most networks are experiencing.

“In the Philippines, as we have said many times before in the past, the networks were actually built for text traffic and not for mobile internet. SMS networks are characterized by very thin backhaul capabilities. Very fast mobile internet almost requires purely fiber optics in terms of backhaul because of the tremendous amounts of data traveling from the base station all the way to the core and out on the internet,” he explained.

What does this mean for the consumer once the new network is powered up? The highest-ranking official of Globe said that it will have “more capacity, lead to quicker, clearer and better quality call and text experience.  There are a number of challenges that the old network is facing today due to changing usage patterns and mobile data preferences of existing subscribers.  With our entirely new network, all these inconveniences will be a thing of the past.”

Cu also outlined the initiatives undertaken by Globe to ensure the full extent of the infrastructure improvements, which include a complete re-planning of its cell sites by actually relocating, repositioning and adding new sites and radio antennas, shifting to a new antenna technology to enhance coverage as well as improving power efficiency by using renewable energy to reduce the company’s carbon footprint.

The benefits of the facilities re-planning were realized during the recent heavy monsoon onslaught as these new facilities were already transferred to higher ground and avoided rising waters. Cu said that the company has taken into account the “new normal” when it comes to flooding these days and considered extreme measures to protect its infrastructure.

He also corrected reports pertaining to the modernization efforts undertaken by Globe, saying that “for the last five months we have been moving very quickly, updating and installing more than 100 sites a week since April of this year. So we are quite close to 50% done in terms of the network change-outs.”

“We are moving progressively forward and at a faster clip.  We are ahead of schedule so it’s very likely that we’ll accomplish the total change-out by the first quarter of 2013.  Today, there are already marked improvement in cities that are 100% complete,” Cu said.

In summary, the Globe president provided a clear picture of what to expect in the network transformation: “This is no usual upgrade. A brand new network will be coming with capacity many years forward, state-of-the-art performance and superior capabilities. You will see and you will find out that this network modernization is indeed real. It is coming and you will feel the difference when it comes to your particular area which will be very, very soon.”