Globe eyes 100 more sites in Mindanao

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Globe Telecom, Inc. is planning to build 100 additional sites for third-generation or 3G mobile phone services and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access or WiMax service this year in Mindanao, a company executive said.

Norma Z. Ribo, Globe Telecom South Mindanao regional head, said that half of these facilities will be in Central Mindanao.

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Globe Telecom made the announcement during the kick off of the month-long business activity celebration of Uswag-Sarangani early this week.
Uswag, literally meaning prosper, stands for United Towards, Strong, Wealthy and Globally Competitive.

"We have big plans for SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sarangani, General Santos City , Sultan Kudarat). We are right now preparing for another roll-out with our broadband facilities," Ribo was quoted as saying in a statement from the Provincial Information Office.

Ribo also introduced WiMAX, Globe Telecom's latest broadband technology in 4G signal, reportedly the first in the country, during the Uswag event, which is now on its sixth year.

Globe Telecom is here to make business and to help through our communication services, she said.

At the end of 2009 Globe Telecom had 3,000 3G and 900 WiMax sites in addition to 60,000 regular cellular sites, an earlier BusinessWorld report said.

Upgrades for the network will be done by placing antennas on existing towers.

The cost of building stand-alone physical structures for 3G or WiMax will be more than the cost of the electronics to be placed, Gil B. Genio, Globe Telecom head for business and carrier services and chief executive officer of unit Innove Communications, Inc.

Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez said that Globe Telecom's participation in the Uswag celebration showcases public-private partnership, which President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III rolled out in his first State of the Nation Address.

In Sarangani, Globe Telecom has been assisting four of the province's micro-enterprises that have shown remarkable growth in the last few months.

"Development should start in the community like Ihan," said Jeffrey O. Tarayao, Globe Telecom corporate social responsibility head.

Sitio Ihan Lumad Association (Sila) in Ihan is one of the four communities assisted by Globe Telecom who now produces handcrafted basketry, plates, mats, and picture frames from bamboo, abaca, nito and rattan.

Sila members are a group of outlaws who used to attack Globe Telecom facilities in the area.

"It is the private sector that builds the economy. We are just providing opportunities where investments will thrive and for our people to improve their way of living," Dominguez said.

The 6th Uswag Sarangani celebration is dubbed as "Tagumpay Mula sa Kahirapan."