For the first time in many years, Akamai Technologies
included the Philippines in the country ranking for mobile internet speeds. And
the results did not disappoint Filipino consumers.
With an average speed of 8.5 Mbps, the Philippines ranked 6th in
the average mobile internet connection speed according to the 2nd Akamai State
of Internet Report. The latest Akamai report also reveals that the Philippines
also achieved 105.1 Mbps peak mobile speed which in the third highest in Asia
Pacific next to Australia and Thailand.
Globe Telecom’s efforts to improve internet experience of
its customers advanced significantly in the first 100 days of the Duterte
administration, as the company managed to drive the mobile internet speed
ranking of the Philippines with its 1st world internet campaign.
Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu reiterated the company’s
commitment to improve the state of internet in the Philippines in order to make
the nation admired globally. “More and more Filipinos are becoming dependent on
fast and reliable internet connectivity, it is imperative that telco operators
like Globe work closely with the government in expanding and improving
telecommunication services,” Cu said.
Cu emphasized Globe is maximizing the use of additional
frequency assets it obtained from the sellout of San Miguel’s telco assets in
line with its commitment to the National Telecommunications Commission to
deploy about 4,500 multiband, multimode software defined radio base station
equipment to 95% of total municipalities and cities in the country, intended to
improve overall customer experience in terms of speed and reliability of mobile
internet services.
To date, Globe has already completed deployment of LTE 700
in 200 sites, mostly in Metro Manila as well as LTE 2600 in 900 sites, mostly
in Visayas and Mindanao. According to Cu, sites where the LTE 700 and LTE 2600
have been deployed cover major business districts and highly-urbanized and
populated areas in the country.
Cu further disclosed that Globe also expanded its GoWiFi
network as it recently completed deployment of the service in close to 500
sites that include Ayala Malls, fast food chains, bus terminals, convenience
stores and other public places. He added that Globe is working on widening its
WiFi coverage and plan to deploy GoWiFi services in close to 1,000 sites across
the country. This will provide WiFi coverage not only Metro Manila but also in
Davao, Cebu, Bulacan, Cavite, Cagayan Valley, Cagayan de Oro, Nueva Vizcaya,
Dumaguete, Zamboanga and Boracay.
Launched in 2015, GoWiFi, the company’ premium open national
WiFi network, is now serving close to 3 million customers per month. The
company’s national WiFi network is open to any customer with a WiFi enabled
device. While customers are able to access the service for free for 30 minutes
a day, customers can easily purchase GoWiFi credits which they can use in any
GoWiFi hotspot.
According to Cu, the company is also about to complete
deployment of free Wi-Fi services in all MRT Line 3 stations, enabling Globe
customers riding the MRT to efficiently make use of their transit time as they
are now able to access the internet for free.
The deployment of free Wi-Fi services is expected to benefit
around 350,000 daily passengers of MRT Line 3. Each passenger will be given
free Wi-Fi access for 30 minutes daily, said Cu, emphasizing that provision of
free WiFi services in all MRT3 stations is part of the company’s initiative to
enhance network capacities.
Aside from MRT Line 3, Globe also signed an agreement to
provide free Wi-Fi services in all 20 LRT stations. In addition to deployment
of WiFi services, Globe will also provide fiber optic cable system that will
extend the length of the entire LRT 1 and cover all LRT stations and LRMC’s
depot in Pasay City. Globe also recently signed with the Metro Manila Development
Authority a similar agreement that will allow the telco provider to deploy
wireless infrastructure in MMDA controlled areas as part of its efforts to
enhance network coverage and capacities.
The 2Q Akamai report also showed the Philippines has average
internet speed of 4.3 Mbps in fixed broadband, up by 24% QoQ and 27% YoY. The
country registered the strongest growth in Asia Pacific region in terms of
“above 4Mbps connectivity adoption” at 33% adoption rate, growing 79% QoQ and
116% YoY.
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