PLDT, Globe secure more LGU permits

Globe Telecom Inc. and PLDT Group said Monday they secured more permits from local government units across the country in the first half to further improve their fixed and mobile broadband speeds.

Globe Telecom said it secured 1,451 permits from LGUs as of June this year.  Aided by the government’s Bayanihan 2 law, Globe was able to expedite construction of towers in more underserved areas.

“Getting these permits has always been a challenge before but with more LGUs now realizing what connectivity can do to improve their services to their constituents and the national government’s call to further ease the permitting process, we have secured more permits now compared to the previous years," said Joel Agustin, Globe senior vice president for program delivery network technical group.

"These permits will allow us to bring better services to more customers who rely on strong connectivity to address their day to day needs,” he said. 

Meanwhile, PLDT and Smart secured more than 24,000 fixed and wireless permits since the government fast-tracked approvals last year.

"Connectivity is essential as the country bounces back from the pandemic. We heed the government's call for world-class internet quality in the Philippines, and we are committed to continue investing in improving our networks to be able to deliver the excellent customer experience that Filipinos deserve," said Mario Tamayo, head of technology at PLDT and Smart.

The continuous network expansion of the two telcos improved the country's fixed and mobile broadband speed between June 2020 and June 2021.

Results of the latest Speedtest Global Index by Ookla showed that the average mobile internet download speed in the country reached 32.84 megabits per second in June this year, twice as fast as the speed posted in the same period last year.

Fixed broadband download speed also nearly tripled to 66.55 Mbps in June from a year ago.

The latest Speedtest Global Index showed the Philippines' fixed broadband download speed is just behind Vietnam's 74.46 Mbps, but ahead of Laos (44.56 Mbps), Brunei (38.56 Mbps), Indonesia (26.17 Mbps), Cambodia (26.10 Mbps) and Myanmar (24.86 Mbps).

The country's mobile internet download speed is behind Vietnam's 43.02 Mbps but also ahead of ASEAN neighbors Laos (30.01 Mbps), Malaysia (26.03 Mbps), Cambodia (25.52 Mbps), Myanmar (22.16 Mbps) and Indonesia (22.14 Mbps).