Globe Telecom said it is now fully utilizing the 700-MHz spectrum and other new spectrum assets as it aims to deploy LTE service to 95 percent of cities and municipalities nationwide by the end of 2018.
Globe said this is a part of the company’s commitment to the National Telecommunications Commission when it was granted co-use of the 700 MHz, 2600 MHz and other spectrum bands, following the acquisition of 50 percent of San Miguel’s telecommunication assets in 2016.
Joel Agustin, Globe senior vice president for program governance, network technical group, said the new spectrum assets enabled Globe to fast-track the rollout of LTE service nationwide.
Globe said that as of third quarter of 2018, it had deployed close to 12,000 LTE cell sites using 700 MHz, 2600 MHz and other spectrum assets. Almost 3,000 of these LTE sites are equipped with 700 MHz, while over 3,700 of these LTE sites are powered by 2600 MHz.
Agustin said the LTE sites covered major business districts and highly-urbanized and populated areas in the Philippines, as customers using LTE-capable devices are steadily increasing in these areas.