Connectivity is utility: Globe, property giants, lawmaker partner for built-in broadband to future-proof homes

PHOTO: Globe recently came together with major property developers and a lawmaker to push for built-in broadband in housing developments across the country. In attendance were (L-R) John Richard Sotelo, Senior Vice President and Business Unit General Manager of RLC Residences; Delfin Angelo “Buds” Wenceslao, CEO of DM Wenceslao Group, master developer of Aseana City; Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu; Isabela 6th District Representative Faustino “Inno” A. Dy V; Michelle Ora, Globe Head of Site Lifecycle Management Services; and Cebu Landmasters Inc. Chief Operating Officer, Director and Executive Vice President Franco Soberano.

Firms laud Globe’s innovative solutions that take developments to the digital edge.

Globe, several of the country’s major builders and a lawmaker championing wider ICT access are pushing for greater adoption of built-in connectivity in developments across the country.  These stakeholders are saying in one voice that internet access should be a basic provision like water and power.

At Globe’s RISE to the Next Level event last Monday, July 11, top executives from Globe and property developers ASEANA Holdings Inc., Cebu Landmasters Inc., Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), and the Victor Consunji Development Corp. (VCDC), talked about their shared goal of providing internet-ready homes for the customers’ benefit and aligned to the digital age.

Isabela 6th District Representative Faustino “Inno” A. Dy V, meanwhile, cited how equitable connectivity is a shared responsibility between government and the private sector, as he vowed to push passage of the bill allowing telcos to build infrastructure in private developments to enable further expansion of internet access in the country.

“Connectivity is a basic requirement of buyers that can be a differentiator for the property business. What we envision is when a customer steps into a property, he is ready to connect just like electricity and water are readily available. And it’s great we’ve gotten this far in terms of our partnerships, because like Globe, they are also customer-centric. We are no longer just talking to a blank wall,” said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu.

“We’ve spoken to many blank walls in the past. Today I’m glad these guys are blazing the trail,” said Cu at a fireside chat with executives of the four major development firms.

Cu said this is part of the Globe Group’s commitment to empower the Philippines with digital solutions, citing how progress “can be attained if we continue to evolve our systems and processes in a digital manner.”

Globe has been pursuing innovative ways to provide connectivity across the country as part of its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which foster innovation and infrastructure as drivers of economic development.

Michelle Ora, Globe Head of Site Lifecycle Management Services, asserted how Internet connectivity should be a fundamental provision in the home.

“We need to treat connectivity like any other utility. We’d like to persuade all other property developers to change their mindset and see the importance of connectivity.  We are glad that more developers are signing up with us to turn this into reality. We believe this is what customers need,” Ora said at the event, Globe’s first on-ground gathering with builders since the pandemic.

To date, Globe has fitted out almost 100K units with built-in broadband across almost 200 developments, making connectivity instantly available to owners and tenants.

Developers gain digital edge with Globe connectivity

For Globe’s partner developers, built-in connectivity makes good business sense. This also comes timely as the country’s property market has proven to be a bright spot in the pandemic-dragged economy, with property prices holding stable in the last 30 months, said David Leechiu, CEO of Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc.

John Richard Sotelo, Senior Vice President and Business Unit General Manager of RLC Residences, shared how Globe would always find solutions for RLC properties’ needs.

“It’s not too late with property. It’s all about finding a base solution. I’ve never heard a ‘no’ from Globe. When I call and say we have a problem with a certain property, they’d say ‘ok we have something to address that’,” said Sotelo. 

For “rebellious” firm VCDC, Globe has been a crucial partner in ensuring they are able to provide the best quality of life for buyers and residents. Globe’s culture of innovation fits perfectly with VCDC’s design philosophy that involves customization, said its visionary founder and CEO Victor Consunji.

“What we do is we fit these homes to someone’s lifestyle. That is the great thing about our partnership with Globe, we put together so many options and customize how they deliver home internet and mobile data through to these homes,” said Consunji, whose firm gives Globe free space to build critical infrastructure in its developments.

Delfin Angelo “Buds” Wenceslao, CEO of DM Wenceslao Group, master developer of Aseana City, shared how his team has been collaborating with Globe to ensure that space for telco property is allocated at the planning stage which adds to efficiency.

“Digital infrastructure should no longer be optional, it’s a necessity. Everything that helps us to achieve this, we are open to more collaboration in the future,” said Wenceslao.

Cebu Landmasters Inc. Chief Operating Officer, Director and Executive Vice President Franco Soberano shared how his company has been providing the same level of connectivity for both high-end and affordable developments. To date, 40 Cebu Landmasters developments are already connected through Globe, with 60 more in the pipeline in the next 5 years.

Cong. Dy, the Isabela lawmaker, vowed to push for the bill that aims to require developers to allot space in their developments for telco and other ICT infrastructure.

“We will be refiling this in the 19th Congress. I want to stress that telco service is actually a utility and therefore a necessity similar to how power and water should be treated,” said Dy at the RISE event.

“Nowadays, no one can live without good connectivity. This is a shared responsibility between the private sector and government to allow connectivity,” added Dy.

To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.