Globe to accelerate 5G adoption to boost PH competitiveness

5G-technology pioneer Globe said it is focused on expanding 5G adoption among consumers for the Philippines to increase its competitiveness in the region.

According to the YouGov report titled International Telco Report 2021: Consumer Adoption of 5G, Asia-Pacific countries lead the way in 5G adoption and use. The report covered 18,803 respondents in 17 countries in North America, Europe and Asia.

Globally, 61 countries — the Philippines included, now have access to commercial 5G.

There are 6.1 billion smartphone subscriptions (out of a total global population of 7.8 billion), making the mobile phone the world’s primary computing platform.

China leads the way with 55% of consumers owning a 5G-enabled device followed by the United Arab Emirates (48%), Hong Kong (34%), Indonesia (33%) India (32%), and Singapore (26%).

Surprisingly, more developed countries have less 5G-enabled devices with France (16%), Germany (17%), Australia (25%), and the United States (26%) lagging behind Asian countries.

With speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G, 5G technology offers the fastest connectivity and download speeds, ultra-low latency, greater bandwidth, superior network reliability, and ability to connect to more devices.

“5G connectivity is the great equalizer since it will make businesses, big and small, more efficient. It also allows Filipinos to access information, do transactions, learn and enrich their digital lifestyle at lightning speeds. With 5G, technology applications that were once in the realm of make believe— are now a reality,” said Issa Guevarra-Cabreira, Globe Chief Commercial Officer.

5G technology’s improved performance and enhanced efficiency empower new user experiences and capabilities. It enables frontier technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Edge Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Industrial IoT, immersive learning, among many others.

5G is also expected to positively impact many sectors including manufacturing, transportation, logistics, healthcare, agriculture, and education. Globe aims to enable these innovations as it expands its 5G network.

To date, the company has over 1,800 5G locations in the country covering major cities and population centers namely the National Capital Region, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Boracay, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos. Zamboanga will soon be covered with 5G cell sites. More Globe 5G sites will continuously go onstream in the coming months and years.

In Opensignal’s recent report 5G Global Mobile Network Experience Awards 2021 – September 2021^{^[1]}, Globe was among the top 30 operators globally for 5G Global Impact.

According to the report, users saw a marked improvement or uplift in mobile experience with 5G compared to 4G across all four measurements (Download Speed, Upload Speed, Games Experience, and Video Experience).

“We are beginning to see the full potential of 5G technology and its impact in our everyday lives. More of our customers are seeing the benefits of 5G and are upgrading their SIM cards and handsets. We need to accelerate 5G adoption and use in the country so we can catch up and compete with our regional peers,” added Guevarra-Cabreira.

Based on the company’s latest data, there were 860,000+ customers on 5G devices last July 2021. The company expects sustained double digit growth in the next few years.

Globe has been offering free SIM 4G LTE/5G so customers can upgrade to the latest network technologies. It has also made available more affordable 5G-enabled phones.

Globe has been at the forefront of bringing and pushing innovation and new technologies with its leadership in mobile data, content, 3G, LTE, and now with 5G technology. It is the first mobile operator in Southeast Asia to commercially launch 5G AirFiber for Home use in the second quarter of 2019. In February 2020, Globe was the first service provider in the country to complete a 5G video call with AIS of Thailand.

Globe is committed to implement the United Nations Global Compact Principles and contribute to 10 of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Learn more about the Globe 5G experience by visiting https://www.globe.com.ph/5g.html.

^[1] Opensignal Awards – 5G Global Mobile Network Experience Awards 2021 based on independent analysis of mobile measurements recorded during the period January 1 – June 29, 2021 © 2021 Opensignal Limited