Globe Telecom has recently fired up its first cell site on the 700 megahertz spectrum in Quezon City as it plans to add 10 more sites on the new spectrum. Globe's customers with Samsung's S6 Edge+, Note 5, S7, S7 Edge, and J5 2016 will be the first to benefit from the rollout.
The move came after Globe acquired half of San Miguel Corp.'s telecommunication assets that included the 700 MHz frequency. PLDT's Smart Communications was also given by the country's telecoms regulator the permission to co-use certain radio frequencies in the coveted 700 megahertz spectrum previously held by San Miguel corp and it also has started deploying mobile sites on the 700MHz spectrum.
The 700 MHz frequency is considered key in providing faster internet speeds in the country as it can easily penetrate buildings and walls and has greater coverage with fewer infrastructures needed compared to frequencies on higher bands. Globe said that about 70 to 80% of the operator's customers are transacting data indoors and it needs the 700 MHz spectrum to provide better coverage and stable connectivity inside their homes.
The operator plans to roll out initially about 200 sites using this particular frequency. Globe said that users of phones that are not compatible with LTE are also expected to benefit from the deployment of 700 MHz cell sites as this will lead to decongestion of users on other frequencies.
Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Program Governance, Network Technical Group
The intention is that the first batch of the 200 sites we plan to roll out will be in areas where connectivity matters most to our customers as well as in locations with high convergence of users like here in the National Capital Region.
